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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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How-to: Layered Cookie Cutter Candles

October 9, 2013 Leave a Comment

How-to: Layered Cookie Cutter Candles at Hands Occupied

Cookie cutter candles are really fun to make. Plus they’re totally cute. We learned that on Monday, when I went over how to make single-color candles with cookie cutters. Today, I’m sharing how to make them with 2 or more colors in layers. Surprisingly, it’s really not that hard! It’s mostly just a matter of mixing more than one color of wax and letting each layer of poured wax harden enough that the waxes won’t mix, but liquid enough that the layers stick together, forming one layered candle.

Supplies

soy wax flakes
2 double boilers (or 2 tin cans and a cooking pot)
timer
candle dyes
candle scents (essential oils, pumpkin spice mix, whatever you want)
candle wicks
stove
scissors
Halloween cookie cutters
waxed paper
clothespins
old baking sheet
candle thermometer (optional)

Directions

First off, if you haven’t checked out my first tutorial on making candles with cookie cutters, you’ll want to take a look. There are some very useful tips to take into account before trying this more advanced technique. And if you’ve never ever made a candle, I have a candle making 101 video tutorial to help you get started. 

Some reminders from my first cookie cutter candles post to kick off this project… 
Lay a sheet of waxed paper over a baking sheet, and set washed and dry cookie cutters on top. Melt your soy wax flakes in a double boiler (or tin can) on the stove, mixing in your desired candle dye and scent. Wait to pour the wax into the cookie cutter until the wet wax has cooled a bit – if it’s too hot, the wax can leak under the bottom of the cookie cutter and make a huge mess. Also, don’t pour your wax unless you’re pressing the cutter down into the waxed paper/baking sheet, forming a seal.

Regarding wicks for your candles, I recommend getting them ready before you pour your wax. To prep them, trim the metal bases if they came with them. Then bend them into an L shape with one leg as long as your cookie cutter is tall.

How-to: Layered Cookie Cutter Candles at Hands Occupied

Pour your first layer of wax into one or more of your cookie cutters, following the tips listed above and/or my first cookie cutter candle tutorial. When you pour out your wax, remember to keep your hands pressing down on the cutter and count to 100 before letting go to let the wax cool enough to form a seal over the bottom of the cookie cutter.

How-to: Layered Cookie Cutter Candles at Hands Occupied

Ok, so review part over, for you wonderful, stupendous regular readers out there! 

Moving on. Set a timer for 10 minutes, starting it immediately after your first layer is poured. When it dings, your wax should still be a bit soft. Rather than poking it to see how hard it is (ouch!) literally jump next to your table to see how much jiggle is going on in your wax. Seriously, I jumped around my kitchen like a total weirdo to test all of my candles. Do it! If your wax isn’t cool enough, the heat of the next layer of wax will melt the two layers together, ruining the look. Your candles will be ready for a second layer when there’s almost no jiggle, which should only take 10 or 15 minutes.

Place your wick in the center of your candle with the tail sticking straight up into the air. To keep it from tipping over, clip the tail into the mouth of a clothespin as shown, resting the butt end of the clothespin on the far edge of the cookie cutter.

How-to: Layered Cookie Cutter Candles at Hands Occupied

Melt a different color of soy wax in the same scent on the stove like the first layer. Let it cool a bit, just like the first layer, and pour a second layer of wax. Set a timer for 10 minutes to let the second layer of wax harden. Using the crazy jumping-around-the-kitchen test, check to see that your wax has hardened a good amount after your timer dings. Then, melt (or re-melt) a third layer of wax and fill your candle to the brim. Let the whole candle dry overnight, and carefully remove your candles from their cookie cutters. Trim excess length from the candles and light to enjoy!

Note: Your candles don’t have to be 3 layers or 5 or 2 – it’s all up to you! The more layers you do, the more work it is, but they do kinda get cooler the more intricate you make ’em. Just go wild – making candles is totally fun and easy, you’d be surprised!

How-to: Layered Cookie Cutter Candles at Hands Occupied

Filed Under: Candles, Halloween, How-to Tagged With: candle, candle craft, candle diy, candle making, candles, cat, cookie cutter, cookie cutter candles, diy candles, double boiler, halloween craft, halloween diy, layered candles, moon, pumpkin, spooky, wicks

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad (she/her) is a craft book author & designer specializing in yarn crafts. Her work combines vintage and modern design elements, prioritizing color and graphic motifs. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), and I’ve been helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010. I got my start here, as a blogger, and since then I’ve shared more than a few tutorials here and on YouTube as I’ve grown as a pattern designer. 🧶 

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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts

handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer 🧶
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern fits with no ease vs. 4” of positive ease. There’s a bit more length to the cotton (brighter color) sample, but both are cropped and feature shoulder seams designed to sit an inch back onto the shoulder instead of on top, giving it a little swing. Length is easily adjustable for folks looking for less of a crop. 
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Pattern: Bevelled Tank by @handsoccupied for @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn summer 2024. Available for free from Hobbii at the 🔗 in my profile.
Yarn pictured: @kelbournewoolens Skipper and Camper. 
Dress form is adjusted to a 36” chest and ~5’3”ish in height. 
Human has a 40” chest and is 5’5”.
Both skirts are vintage.
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #handsoccupied #intarsia #handmade #knitting #colorwork
Let’s talk about fit and ease! . During the Beve Let’s talk about fit and ease!
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During the Bevelled Tank design process for @pompommag, I knit 2 samples using 2 different @KelbourneWoolens yarns. One was in Skipper (100% cotton, second photo) and the other was in Camper (100% 2 ply wool). The Skipper sample was knit for a 36” bust, which measures in at 40” with 4” of positive ease. And I knit the Camper Sample for my 40” bust with a 44” finished measurement. (BTW, I’m 5’5” for folks that find that measurement helpful in visualizing fit.)
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Based on the size chart for the Bevelled Tank, that means I knit one size 3 sample and one size 4. As designed, I conveniently fit a size 4 as intended with 4” of positive ease. When I wear the 3, there is no ease at all because the garment and my body are both 40” in size. Comparing the 2 garments, you can see how the fiber content (cotton vs. wool) and fit (no ease vs. 4” of positive ease) makes a difference in the look and feel of the finished garment. 
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These samples are a great way to compare what ease looks like on different bodies. While I can fit both a size 3 and 4, the garment with no ease feels more like pajamas or a bralette when I wear it. On the other hand, when I wear the one with 4” of positive ease, I feel comfortable enough to wear it to work, even as a crop top. Plus, it leaves me with enough room to layer it with a nice button down if I’m not feeling the cropped look one day. 
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I’m curious - how would you style this tank? Would you modify it with a few stockinette rows for added length? I’m so curious now that this pattern is finally out in the world. :) 
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #bevelledtank #handsoccupied #knitting #intarisa #handmade #kelbournewoolens #croppedsweater #summerknits
After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m ba After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m back with a brand new pattern in 9 sizes, and it’s FREE as part of @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn’s summer design collection! (Link is in my bio.)
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In my December newsletter, I announced that I was soliciting test knitters for a pattern that had originally been selected for the summer ’24 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly magazine. However, the magazine ceased publication after its spring ’24 issue, leaving in-progress designs unpublished. (It happens.) As a result, I’d begun the long process of editing, testing, and photographing the pattern for independent release through the Hands Occupied pattern shop and Ravelry.
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Before I was done with that process, Pom Pom Quarterly’s former editors reached out with an exciting proposal for the pattern. Post-magazine, they’ve begun to partner with yarn companies to produce high quality pattern collections. They wanted to include designs from the would-be current issue of Pom Pom Quarterly in a new collection for Hobbii yarn, including my Bevelled Tank. I worked with the same technical editors I would have for the magazine on this one, and as you can see from the photos, Pom Pom’s team did an amazing job of styling the garment to the beautiful standards they’re known for.
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You can learn more about the pattern on my blog and get the free pattern from Hobbii yarn - links to both in my profile. I’ll post sizing info in the comments for quick reference too. 🧶
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #knitting #intarsia #sponsored #colorworkknitting 
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Photos: @dianascarrunz 
Model: @angel.jade_
Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vi Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vintage knitting pattern from 1938 called the Fernlace Pullover. A pattern so nice, I knit it twice.
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Yellow version 💛: knit with Despondent Dyes’ Vintage Vixen Sport after attending a @squidneyknits vintage knitting retreat in 2019 & learning *so much*. Paired with a self-drafted circle skirt pattern. 
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Blue version 💙: knit with @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Sky Blue. Paired with the 1940s Boardwalk Duet sewing pattern from @decades_of_style 
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Head to my stories for 🔗🔗 to the handmade wardrobe blog posts I wrote about each take on the Fernlace Pullover, working with a vintage pattern, where to find vintage patterns (including the one I used), & some thoughts on sizing. 
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Image descriptions available in alt text. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadewardrobe #fernlacepullover #vintageknitting #vintageknittingpatterns #knitting_inspiration
Frogging is a word in the knitting world that mean Frogging is a word in the knitting world that means to rip out your knitting. It’s called frogging because frogs say “ribbit,” and when you’re tearing out your knitting, you will “rip it” out, and that sounds like ribbit. No really. 🐸 Did you know this fun fact? 
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P.S. I did like this design concept, but to make the pattern more knitter friendly as well as more wearable, I am making some tweaks to the construction. Excited to share when it’s ready! 🥰🧶
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Yarn: @blueskyfibers Woolstok North in Morning Frost & Highland Fleece 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #frogging #blueskyfibers #knittersofinstagram #blueskymakers #knittingvocabulary #bsfmakers #knitdesign
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