Witch Crafts: Saint Brigid’s Doll for Imbolc

With Candlemas close at hand on February second, I figured it was time we make something for the impending holiday. Something that might bring us a bit of good luck with all of this snow we’ve been having in the south-east. Maybe, just maybe Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow, but I’m not taking any chances. Maybe St. Brigid can help bring us some much-needed thawing out.

A little bit about St. Brigid and why she’s so important before we dig into this DIY. St Brigid was known to the Irish Catholic as a Saint, much like Patrick and Columbia. She’s celebrated on the first of February and is said to also be related to the Pagan Goddess of the same name. Saint Brigid shares many of the goddesses attributes and is also said to mark the beginning of Spring, healing, and fertility; much like the pagan Brigid. Even the pagan version of Brigid is said to be a continuation of the Indo European dawn goddess well known in polytheistic religions of times long past. According to pagan custom, Brigid Dolls are crafted on Candlemas and placed into little “beds” next to the fireplace, to welcome light and fortune to the home.

How To Make a Brigid Doll:

You will need:

• Raffia or burlap ribbon
• wine cork or champagne cork
• hot glue
• feathers
• lace ribbon

Add a line of hot glue along one side of your cork. Wrap your raffia or ribbon around the cork until it is fully covered.

Using a small book, wrap your raffia or burlap ribbon around it several times.

Pull the ribbon off of the book and cut the bottom loops.

Find the middle of the ribbon (Where your top loops still are). and glue to the top of your cork

With an additional strand of ribbon wrap underneath the cork until space is no longer visible.

With six stands of ribbon about six inches long, tape down the top of the strands with a space between each two. (Creating three strands). Braid the three strands together. Add hot glue to the ends and once try trim them down.

Creating a teardrop shape, glue the two ends of the “arms” together at the top. Glue to the back of the doll, and an embellishment to “hands” if you’d like!

Fan out your choice of feathers and either glue or tie them onto your doll.

Cut ribbon and glue around the ‘skirt’ of your doll. Change up the lengths and textures to make her unique!

And there you have it. Your very own Saint Brigid’s doll for Imbolc! You’ll see many tutorials online for straw dolls, but I figured I would use some of the craft items I already had around the house. Keep your Brigid near your bed, or in a bed of her own at your altar. Happy almost spring!

Check out the delicious rosemary goat cheese biscuits we made for Imbolc last year here.