Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by making a Brigid's cross, a craft honoring one of Ireland's patron saints. Traditionally these crosses are made of rushes, which grow wild in marshy areas. We wove our cross from colored craft-store raffia.

Instructions

1. First, moisten the raffia by wetting it with warm water and allowing it to sit for 10 minutes. Use scissors to trim the raffia pieces to about 20 inches long.

2. Lay one or two strands vertically on your table. Fold a second strand or two in half around the middle of the first, with the ends pointing to the right (figure 1).

3. Rotate your project a quarter turn. Fold a third strand or two around the second (figure 2).

4. Rotate the project again and add a fourth strand (figure 3).

5. Repeat these steps until your cross is as big as you'd like (ours uses 13 pieces), then tie the ends of the cross's arms with scrap pieces of raffia.

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Find more about:

• 30 Minutes or less |
• Keepsake Projects |
• School Age |
• St. Patrick's Day |
• String, Rope, and Yarn |
• Tween

Related Categories:

• March 2010 |
• St. Patrick's Day Crafts Ideas