Candles can’t get much easier than beeswax

One project we’ve wanted to try for years — but kept putting off for one reason or another — is making beeswax candles.

This week we took the plunge at last and are happy to recommend it to those who haven’t yet tried the simple procedure.

All you need to make a variety of candles, such as the ones shown in our Valentine’s Day-themed photo, are sheets of beeswax and wicking.

Beeswax is available in sheets, usually measuring about 8 by 14 inches. It generally comes in packages of two sheets, with a length of wicking and instruction sheet, for $7.99. You can also buy candle kits ($12 to $15), which include several 8- by 8-inch squares of wax, wicking and instructions.

Keep the beeswax at room temperature — unless your room is on the frigid side — so that it will be pliable when you work with it.

The wax is easily cut to desired lengths and shapes, but it’s best to keep an inexpensive pair of scissors on hand specifically for this purpose. You’ll also want to have some kind of protective mat or other surface reserved for candle rolling, as the wax is hard to get rid of once it sticks to a surface.

We tried making candles in a number of sizes, beginning with an 8-inch pillar using one 8- by 14-inch sheet of wax.

To make a candle, cut a length of wicking about 1/2-inch longer than the height of the candle. Press the wicking into the wax along one edge, then begin rolling the candle by pinching the wax around the wicking and continue rolling the wax slowly and evenly until the pillar is formed.

Gently push the wax together to form a smooth seam, and your candle is finished. Take a look at our second photo — the one showing the wax sheets and kit — to see the rolling process. Oh, and feel free to chuckle. Yes, we forgot to put the wicking in our sample roll-up.

The procedure is the same for any size candle you decide to make (just be sure to remember the wicking) and you can also cut out shapes or strips from beeswax of a different color to embellish your plain candles.

For our Valentine’s Day assortment, we made candles of different lengths and colors and tied them together in a bundle with raffia and ribbon. Bundles of hand-rolled candles make nice hostess gifts or table arrangements, but you won’t want to burn them in bundle form, as you’ll end up with a mess — not to mention a potential fire hazard.

We added decorative pins to several candles for an extra touch, and made a bundle of minis suitable for use as birthday candles.

The only problem we encountered during the project was one case of brittle wax, which, to put it mildly, was frustrating. The wax cracked at every other revolution as we rolled it and was impossible to smooth into a seam at the end.

We don’t know if it was just a bad piece of wax — it was one of the sheets in the kit — or if it was too cold when we began working with it. We had stored it in the laundry room the night before, where it gets a bit brisk when the snow flies.

A note about last week’s column…

We were happy to receive feedback on our fleece dog toy column from Pamela Grudin of Arlington, who wrote, “You are so right about fleece toys entertaining our canine friends.

“Just a couple of considerations: When a pup is ‘raised’ with fleece, all fleece is fair game — which means that your favorite fleece pullover, blankie and slippers are fair game also.

“It took us years to be able to offer fleece beds to our dogs without them being consumed, and we still have to guard certain clothing options. Perhaps this caution is worth passing along to your readers.”

Pamela’s comments reminded us that it’s important to know your dog and choose toys accordingly. And it’s always a good idea to exercise control over the toy basket so that you remain the alpha in your dog’s eyes.

Another thing to think about, Pamela suggests, is the possible toxicity of fabric dyes. You might want to wash the fleece a couple of times before making a pet toy — or even a garment or accessory for yourself or your kids — especially if the fabric has a chemical odor.

We recently purchased a wonderfully soft and warm chenille throw, but when we took it out of the plastic wrapper, phew! But a trip through the laundry cycle with a little bit of fabric softener and the problem was solved.

Contact Jonetta Coffin at jrocoffin@aol.com.