Cro-cycled Candle Luminary

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Hello there! I've been busy working on that crochet challenge and like I said before, with a condition like Crochet Attention Deficit Disorder, I can't work on just one thing!

This week I'm posting for your enjoyment a crochet candle luminary made with some recycled material. You guys know how much I love combining recycling and crochet! So, yes, another cro-cycled project for you to try! 

 Here's how it goes ...



Cro-cycled Candle Luminary

Materials:
  • cardboard tube (from toilet tissue or paper towels)
  • scissors
  • double-sided tape
  • flameless tealight
  • size E-4 crochet hook
  • yarn (I recommend using a 2/Fine yarn)
  • embroidery needle (for weaving in the ends)
  • stitch marker (optional)
Stitches used: (American Terminology)
  • Chain (ch)
  • Slip Stitch (sl st)
  • Single Crochet (sc)
  • Half Double Crochet (hdc)
NOTES:
The top of the pattern is worked in rows. After that the body of the candle is worked in the round. The chain 1 step at the beginning of the rows is NOT counted as a working stitch. This just steps us up to the next row.

 


Before we begin the crochet work, we have to get the candle form ready. Measure the flameless tealight to the inside of your cardboard tube. If it's too small to fit snug you will need to trim your tube. 

 

To trim the tube, cut a straight line down the side. Easy enough, huh?








Measure the size of the tealight inside the split tube. Now here you can trim the excess (as I did) or just overlap it. I don't think the overlap will make a big difference in the overall appearance but you may need to adjust the number of stitches to make the crochet portion fit the form. 

 









Once that is measured out and you're satisfied with the fit, put double-sided tape around the side of the tealight and carefully wrap the tube around it.


  








For good measure and to keep the bottom portion of the split tube from collapsing add a piece of tape to the inside.




Now you may be asking, "How am I supposed to turn this sucker on?" Well how about doing this? ^_^ I found I can use my hooks for a lot of things not at all related to crochet. How about you?

Now for the crochet part of this tutorial! Yay! Finally!

Begin Pattern:
Ch 6 and join to form a circle.
Row 1: Ch 1, 12 hdc in circle. Join to top of first hdc (not the ch 1 stitch) {12 hdc}

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 hdc in each stitch around. Join to top of first hdc (not the ch 1 stitch) {24 hdc}

 Now we begin working in the round:
Row 3: Ch 1, hdc in same stitch (place stitch marker here if you will be using it) and in each stitch around working in back loop only for this first row of the body of the candle. 

Row 4: When you get back to the first hdc, do NOT ch 1, keep on with hdc in each hdc (skipping the ch 1 in row 3 and now working in both loops) until the body of the candle is long enough to cover your cardboard tube. (Mine took 20 rounds).

Optional:
To finish: Once the body is long enough to cover the cardboard tube, do the following stitches to make to bottom even: 1 hdc, 2 sc, 2sl st. Tie off and weave in the ends. Place over the candle form and voilà! A safe candle to leave on the desk of a coworker for their birthday and even safe enough for the preschooler to carry around during a church service.

 Enjoy and have a great week!
Peace and blessings,
~~Karen~~



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