Soy/Palm Wax Blend Candles

Candle making can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s not always easy to get it right the first time. Sometimes, even experienced candle makers struggle with certain aspects of the craft. Recently, I tried something new and found a solution to a problem that I had been experiencing for a while.

I had been trying to create soy wax pillars and votives, but I was having difficulty getting them to harden properly. The texture of the wax was not smooth, and the colors were not as bright as I had hoped. That’s when I decided to try blending the soy wax with palm wax, as I had heard that this could help improve the texture and appearance of the candles.

To start, I made a pure soy wax votive in purple, and a soy/palm wax blend in pink. When comparing the two candles side by side, the soy/palm blend was noticeably better. It had a smoother texture and brighter colors, which was a great bonus. The pink color of the soy/palm blend was also more vibrant than the purple of the pure soy wax candle.

I used a 25% palm wax blend, as palm wax can be expensive, and I wanted to see how little I could use and still achieve good results. The pillar I made with this blend could have used a bit more palm wax, as the melt pool stretched out to an inch too quickly. Despite this, the candle was still a significant improvement over my previous attempts, as it did not fall or melt all over the place like before.

Blending soy wax with palm wax can be a great solution for those struggling with the texture and appearance of their candles. The palm wax helps to smooth out the texture and brighten the colors of the candle. However, it’s important to note that the more palm wax you use, the more it will affect the burning properties of the candle. So, it’s best to experiment with different ratios until you find the perfect balance for your needs.

In conclusion, blending soy wax with palm wax is a great solution for those looking to improve the texture and appearance of their candles. I found that a 25% palm wax blend worked well for me, but the ratio will vary depending on your specific needs. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the right blend for your candles.

This soy/palm blend is only 25% palm, because that stuff isn’t cheap and I wanted to see how little I could get away with. The pillar could use some more palm wax, as the melt pool stretched out to an inch too quickly. It’s still an improvement because at least the candle isn’t falling and/or melting all over the place!

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

Have you read?