The Yule Log

Flower candles on the Yule Log

The race is on, but our storehouses are half full, not half empty, the Goddess provides. We have a plan to survive the long, dark winter physically. Now is the time to think about our emotional well-being. How should we keep our spirits up while we await the Spring? 

Festivals of Light have long been a way for folx to pass the time and keep hope alive. All over the world, from Diwali in India to the Lantern Festival in China, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Yule, the season becomes a bit brighter when we light a candle.

Poinsettia or Snowflake Tea Light

You Will Need:

Size H8/5mm crochet hook

1oz. each of yellow, red, and green 4-ply yarn for poinsettia

2 oz. of white sparkle 4-ply yarn for snowflake

Scissors

LED tea light (NO real candles please)

You Will Use:

Ch – chain stitch

Dc – double crochet stitch

Hdc – half double crochet stitch

Rev Sc – reverse single crochet

Trc – triple crochet stitch

{} – repeat pattern between

Sl St – slip stitch

Picot – chain 3, slip stitch into 3rd chain from hook

FO – fasten off

BLO – back loops only

Instructions for poinsettia:

Yellow yarn – 

Rd 1 - Ch 3, 12 Dc in 3rd Ch from hook Rd 2 – In BLO, 1 Hdc in each stitch around Rd 3 – Rev Sc around, FO and weave end.

Red yarn – 

Attach yarn with Sl St to any unused loop from Rd 2.

Rd 4 – {Ch 3, Dc in same St, picot, Dc in next St, Ch 2, Sl St in same St, Sl St in next St}, Repeat 5 more times: FO and weave end.

Green yarn – 

Attach yarn with Sl St behind the center of any petal.

{Ch 3, Dc, Trc in same St, picot, Trc, Dc, Ch 2 Sl St in next St, Sl St in net St} Repeat 5 more times. FO and weave end.

Instructions for Snowflake:

White yarn – 

Rd 1 - Ch 3, 12 Dc in 3rd Ch from hook. Rd 2 – In BLO, 1 Hdc in each stitch around. Rd 3 – Rev Sc around, FO and weave end.

Attach yarn with Sl St to any unused loop from Rd 2.

{Ch 3, Dc, Trc in same St, picot, Trc, Dc, Ch 2 Sl St in next St, Sl St in net St} Repeat 5 more times. FO and weave end.

*** Fiber Magick Moment ***

Six petals on your flower or points on your snowflake connote beauty and harmony. Take a deep breath and achieve balance as you build this cup to hold your light.

If one candle can break through the darkness and give us hope that Spring will come, imagine what a row of flames can do. The Yule log is a symbol of that hope. The fire smolders through the shortest days until we can see the Sun’s return. We can make a version that will not burn away. Place it in a window and let your light shine for others to see. 

Yule Log

You will need:

Size H/8 5.mm crochet hook 

6 oz. of 4-ply yarn, dark brown

2 oz. of 4-ply yarn, light brown

Stitch marker

Scissors

Yarn needle

You will use:

BLO – back loops only

Ch – chain

Sc – single crochet

Sc inc – 2 Sc in one stitch

Hdc – half double crochet

Hdc inc – 2 Hdc in one stitch

{} – repeat pattern between

SL St – slip stitch

FO – fasten off

Log ends – light brown – Make 2

Ch 2

Rd 1 – 8 Sc in 2nd Ch from hook

Working in BLO from here on out

Rd 2 – 2 Sc in each stitch around (16)

Move the stitch marker as you finish each round

Rd 3 – {Sc, Sc inc} around (24)

Rd 4 – {Sc twice, Sc inc} around (32)

Rd 5 – {Sc 3 times, Sc inc} around (40)

Rd 6 – {Sc 4 times, Sc inc} around (48)

Sl St into next 2 stitches, Ch 1

Top stitch with Sl Sts on the unused loops to make a spiral design back to the center of the circle. You can use a different shade of brown if desired.

Log – dark brown - make 1

Holding 2 strands of yarn together, Ch 41

Row 1 - Hdc in 2nd stitch from hook, Hdc across (40)

Rows 2-6 – Hdc in each St across. (40)

Row 7 – 8 Hdc, Popcorn, 15 Hdc, Popcorn, 15 Hdc (40)

Rows 8-12 – Hdc in each St across. (40)

Row 13 – 15 Hdc, Popcorn, 15 Hdc, Popcorn, 8 Hdc (40)

Rows 14-18 – Hdc in each St across. (40)

Row 19 - 8 Hdc, Popcorn, 15 Hdc, Popcorn, 15 Hdc (40)

Rows 20-24 – Hdc in each St across. (40)

Row 25 - 15 Hdc, Popcorn, 15 Hdc, Popcorn, 8 Hdc (40)

With right side together (the side with bumps), use Sl Sts to join the long ends, forming a tube. Sew the log end, stuff, sew the opposite log end.

In modern paganism, Yule logs sometimes have holes drilled in them to be used as candle holders. This symbolizes the log burning in a fireplace or pit. Our small Yule log won’t last long with real candles, but three of those poinsettia or snowflake tea lights will look nice sitting across the top. You can sew them on or balance them so you can move them to your altar or hang them on a tree. Oh, make a bunch of them and put them everywhere. They don’t take long.