Do you remember making “snakes” (either with clay or dough) when you were a kid? Kids love rolling the dough on the table or between their hands until a snake appears, seemingly by magic. Many things can be made with these “snakes.” There’s coffee mugs if you’re using clay and pretzels if you’re using dough, but we’re talking Christmas here, so we’ll concentrate on my personal favorite use of a dough snake… the candy cane sugar cookie.
To re-create this classic Christmas cookie in yarn, I would need to make two long snakes in red and white. That was easy – just make I-cords! But then came the question of how to twist them together. I deliberated over adding wire or sewing the two strands together, until my husband provided a great solution – torsion! This tutorial will show you how by twisting one cord really tight and tying it to the other, the two cords become entwined and stay that way. (But don’t ask me to explain the physics. I like to believe it’s just magic.)
Candy Cane Cookie
Materials:
D-3 (3.25 mm) crochet hook or size 3 double-pointed knitting needles
Small amount of worsted-weight yarn in red (Caron Simply Soft Autumn Red)
Small amount of worsted-weight yearn in off white (Caron Simply Soft Bone)
2 twist ties
Tapestry needle
Instructions:
Make two 4-ch (or 4-st) I-cords 7” long, leaving long tails on the ends of the red cord.
There are several ways to make an I-cord. You could knit them, crochet them with just a hook, or crochet them with a hook and a tapestry needle.
Twist the red cord 18-20 times. Align both cords and bind them together at each end with a twist tie, maintaining the twist in the red cord while doing so.
The twisted cord will automatically entwine with the other.
Sew each end together, covering the ends with several stitches.
Shape into a candy cane and hang on your tree or display on a cookie platter.
November 30, 2013 at 7:27 am
Looks great! Thanks for sharing ^.^
November 30, 2013 at 7:32 am
Yay! So glad you like them!
November 30, 2013 at 7:42 am
Mmmmmm……the canes look delicious…. 😀
December 1, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Thanks, Tajana!
November 30, 2013 at 7:50 am
I must admit that candy canes are one of my favorite holiday guilty pleasures. I love how you’ve made a yarn version of them! They look like a wonderful decoration.
December 1, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Thanks so much! Hope you get to enjoy many candy canes this year.
November 30, 2013 at 7:35 pm
Well I never!!!!!! I had no ideait was possible to make an I cord with a crochet hook! I admit to being very excited about this because I use them quite a bit. Thanks for letting me know. I love the canes and the pattern and isn’t your husband clever coming up with the idea of how to twist them together? Sounds like you make a good team! The canes are both beautiful AND useful
December 1, 2013 at 12:46 pm
I learned how to knit I-cords first too! (Well, actually, I remember learning how to use one of those spool knitters when I was in grade school.) It’s kinda neat that there are so many ways to do it!
December 1, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Reblogged this on Sassylady's craft blog..
Pingback: Christmas Desserts: Candy Cane Cookies | SamLovesBaking
December 4, 2013 at 7:26 am
How pretty!!!
December 4, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Another one of your great creations. I really hole I wil have time to make a cookie box with all your cookies before this Christmas! Really like your patterns and enjoying each and every one. Thank you for you generosity!
Hugs,
Vanja
December 4, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Thanks, Vanja! I have really enjoyed making all these cookies. I hope you do to! 🙂