Weaving a St Brigid's Cross for Imbolc

St Brigid's Cross

St Brigid’s crosses are traditionally made on 1st February which is the feast day of St Brigid. This originated as the old festival of Imbolc sacred to the Goddess Brigid, celebrated by Pagans. Imbolc is the first glimmering of light returning, a hopeful sign that Spring is on its way. The Goddess Brigid is renowned for inspiring artists, writers, poets and musicians. She is also a protector of women.

Wet winter fields often have an abundance of reeds or rushes you can gather, but if you can’t find any you could use another plant with straight pliable foliage, or failing that you could even use paper straws to weave your cross.

An equal armed cross can be seen as representing the four seasons and the four directions. Light a candle to Brigid before you start as she is associated with holy flame, whether you are honouring the Saint or the Goddess.

Materials for Weaving a St Brigid's Cross

You'll need 16 rushes, 4 small rubber bands and scissors. Top tip - the weaving it is easier if you fold all but the first reed in half before you start!

The first reed is kept unfolded, after that each reed you add is folded in half and slotted across from left to right.

Ask the Goddess to bless your cross as you make it.

Make a quarter turn anticlockwise each time you add a reed.

Make a quarter turn anticlockwise after you've slotted each new reed across the centre. Keep going methodically slotting in a new reed left to right and turning a quarter turn. You'll see an orderly woven pattern start to show in the centre of the cross .

Keep a firm grip on the centre as you add more reeds.

Letting go of the centre will reduce everything to individual rushes and you will need to start again!

Almost there!

Once you have used all the reeds you can put a rubber band firmly around the end of each arm to keep them in place and then trim with scissors so all the arms are the same length.

A completed St Brigid's cross, just needing to add ribbons for a prettier finish.

I like to add coloured ribbons - Yellow for East and Air, Red for South and Fire, Blue for West and Water and Brown for North and Earth, but that's optional and you can use a colour that suits your decor.

The ideal place to hang your completed cross is above your front door or in the eaves. Any unused stalks and offcuts are returned to the earth by composting them.

Make a fresh Brigid’s cross each year and burn your old one (safely please!) giving the ashes back to the Earth.