Palm Cross Craft

On Palm Sunday, we each get a palm leaf as we remember how Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem. Here is something you can do with your palm leaf when you get home.

Many cultures have special crafts they make by folding or braiding palms. This cross is a little tricky to make, but keep trying! You can also ask your parents and grandparents what they used to make with palms. Since the palms are blessed, the objects you make out of them should be treated as special.

 

Step 1

Start with two strips of palm approximately 1/4 inch wide and about 10 inches long. The strips will be slightly wider on one end. On the wide end, fold down a little piece of the palm (about 1/4 inch), placing them as shown.

 

 

 

 

Step 2 and Step 3

Fold down those two tabs, then fold the two long sections of palm over the opposite way, as shown in the two photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4

This is the tricky step. Holding the palms folded as you have done so far, turn them over and take the long piece you folded last and tuck it under and through the fold you can see in the photo, pulling it tight to “lock” it.

 

 

 

Step 5

Then take each of the long ends and loop them around, tucking them back where they came from, but don’t pull tight. Leave loops.

 

 

 

 

 

Complete

Take the two ends again and loop them back under and through where they came from, leaving loops. Even out the four loops to make a cross shape. If you need to, cut off some extra. Then press down on the ends of the loops to crease them.

 

 

Craft by Sr. Maria Grace Dateno, FSP
Photos by Sr. Mary Frances Epplin, FSP