Imbolc - Making a Bridie/St Brigit's Cross

Imbolc -Making a Bridie/St Brigit’s Cross

There are a few methods of doing this besides the one detailed below and of course traditionally would have been made with reeds or straw.

Selection of Paper Straws

I have used different coloured paper straws in order to show the order more easily.

Take 1 Straw (you might want to flatten each straw prior to using).

Bridie Cross Green Initial Straw

Next take another straw and place underneath in the form of a cross.

Bridie Cross Starter

Bend straw underneath to the Right

White Straw Bent to the Right

Next is where some methods differ. Some leave the initial straw as it is whereas I am folding in straight up and thus forming an L shape. From this point onward we will be turning the straws used to the Left and adding a fresh one to the Right.  

You can if you wish think of it as Marching, Left, Right, Left, Right, until we have to halt. Slip a straw (in my case Red) inside the White and fold to the Right. I found that that if I placing the straw inside made it easier to handle on the first time around.

Turn to Left and Add Red Straw to Right

Turn the whole thing again to the Left then add another straw to the Right. I have slipped a Yellow one inside the Red one and folded.

Turn to Left and Add Yellow Straw to Right

This forms the basis for the cross. The cross will be built up by continuing to turn to the Left and adding straws to the Right. There is one small proviso. The next two rounds of straws will be added by folding around the base straw instead of being slipped inside as before.  Therefore the next straw which is Green is added by folding around the Yellow straw

Turn to Left and add 2^nd Green Straw (outside)

Turn to Left and add 2^nd White Straw (outside)

Turn to Left and add 2^nd Red Straw (outside – picture missing) 

Turn to Left and add 2^nd Yellow Straw (outside)

Turn to Left and add 3^rd Green Straw (outside)

Turn to Left and add 3rd White Straw (outside) 

Turn to Left and add 3rd Red Straw (outside – picture missing)

Turn to Left and add 3^rd Yellow Straw (outside)

After adding the final straw of the cross it can be fixed so it doesn’t unravel. Take a straw that matches the corresponding colour (optional) in this case Yellow and place underneath the 3 other Yellow straws.

Add 4^th Yellow Straw

Next wrap this straw around the other three and fasten at the back with sticky tape.

4^th Yellow B –Wrapping Around

 

4^th Yellow C –Wrapping Around

 

When you have fastened one side of the cross you can go on and repeat the process with the other 3.

Finished Bridie Cross