Candle Whimsy: 23 Bold, Bendy Projects That Break the Mold

Swedish interior designer Dykhoff debuts with an innovative beginners’ guide to candle-making. Encouraging crafters to use sustainably produced stearin, a natural wax derived from animal or vegetable fats; beeswax; and a flat cotton wick, she shows how to melt the wax in a saucepan and outlines different candle-making techniques. A simple one is dipping, which creates taper candles by repeatedly immersing a long wick into melted wax, allowing it to cool between layers until the desired thickness is attained. Crafters can add a spiral look by wrapping the still-soft wax around a dowel. Shaping is another method, which involves rolling a sheet of beeswax around a wick. The candle can be left as is or dipped in melted wax for a more finished look. Crafters can also try casting, which involves pouring melted wax into a mold, letting it harden, and releasing it. Molds can be created with items found around the house, like a soda can, juice pouch, or toilet paper tube. Dykhoff also explains how to add color to candles by blending pigments or wax crayons into melted wax. Offering novel ways to think about candle-making, Dykhoff turns the functional objects into sculptural art forms. Crafters will be intrigued by the endless possibilities. (Mar.)