Candle project

I have a problem and I hope those of you who follow my blog may be able to offer assistance. Please feel free to comment here or email me privately.

I want to make needlepoint advent candles for each of my sons’ families. I have the design concept in my head, I have the threads in mind and of course the colors will be purple and pink; but for the life of me I cannot figure out the finishing. I can see the finished candles, I just cannot figure out how to do it and it may make a difference in how I stitch the tops and sides. I think it would be easier to access the candles from the top, but am not sure.   I am going to use either the small battery-powered candles that look like votive candles (option A and I think these would definitely have to be accessed from the top) or the table candles (option B and these probably could be accessed from either end). Each of these presents their own problems.

Option A: Votive candle will require an insert to set the candle on.

Option B: Full candle will also have to be accessible.

Either option needs: to be weighted; I would like the sides to be hard; I think the top would be easiest to remove to access the candles…

I thought about PVC pipe with a top area to hold votive, and a bottom area for weight, but I couldn’t find all the right parts to make these…I guess I could go to a plumbing shop and get some help, but it would probably be expensive to make these.

I also thought about making cardboard tubes but wasn’t sure this would be heavy enough. I can use aquarium gravel for the weight and make muslin bags to put gravel in.

I just can’t see the finishing and it is keeping me from starting because I am not sure until I make this decision how large the sides of the canvas will need to be to cover  the finishing forms. Any ideas? I’ll keep everyone posted.

Thank you for stopping by and spending a few moments with me; hope you have time to stitch today! ttfn…sue