Make a Paper St. Brigid's Cross

This is a very simplified version of St. Brigid's (or St. Bridget's) cross. The traditional one is made of rushes and has many more layers. This is just the first round but it contains the core of the pattern.

I used four strips of bagasse paper from India. They have deckled and uneven edges as they are the edges I trimmed off before cutting the paper for shipping The Spirit Books book.

MAKE THE CROSS:

1. FOLD THE STRIPS OF PAPER:

Fold each strip of paper in half.

2. FIRST STRIP:

Hold the first strip vertically with the fold on the top.

3. SECOND STRIP:

Hold the second strip horizontally with the fold on the left.

Open it and and enclose the first strip by placing one layer on either side.

4. THIRD STRIP:

Hold the third strip vertically with the fold on the bottom.

Open it and and enclose the second strip by placing one layer on either side.

5. FOURTH STRIP:

Hold the fourth strip horizontally with the fold on the right.

Open it and enclose the third strip.

Bring the layers together and thread them inside the layers of the first strip.

6. TIGHTEN:

Gently tighten the weave and make the cross.

Somehow the cross just asked for some lettering. I turned the cross over to the side where the paper strips were more even and wrote with a Akashiya Corporation Thin Line marker from Jet Pens.

In the center: spring and imbolc.

On the sides going clockwise:

Let us nurture the spirit of renewal and embrace the light of the coming days. (from last year's first day of Celtic spring message)
and
Let us hold the fire of St. Brigid in our hearts and be warmed by its flames.

Here's a link to video for making a traditional St. Brigid's cross.