How to Draw a Candy Cane (Easy Step by Step)
A candy cane is a fun first holiday drawing because it is really just one curved stripe with a bow on it. You only need a tall hooked shape, a few slanted stripes, and two round loops for the bow.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a candy cane step by step
How to Draw a Candy Cane · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: Outer curve and hook
Start low on the left and draw a tall straight line up, then curve it over the top like an upside-down U. Bring the line down the right side and finish with a little flat foot for the hook, then add a short line inside the hook.
Step 3: Inner left line
Inside the left side, draw a straight line going up from the bottom. Keep it parallel to the left side of the cane and stop where the curve begins.
Step 4: Stripes on the curve
Draw a small curve inside the arch to show the inner edge of the bend. Then add short lines across the arch, each one going from the inner curve up to the outer curve.
Step 5: The bottom end
Below the left side, draw two short straight lines side by side. Join their bottoms with a rounded curve, like the letter U.
Step 6: The bow loops
On each side of the cane, draw a rounded loop like a butterfly wing. Both loops start near the cane and bulge out to the sides.
Step 7: Knot and stripes
Between the loops, draw a small rounded square for the knot of the bow. Then draw slanted lines across the straight part of the cane and the hook, all tilting the same way, to make the candy stripes.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your candy cane? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a mitten or how to draw an igloo next.
Tips for drawing a candy cane
- Draw the two long sides of the cane lightly at first, and keep them the same distance apart so the stripe stays an even width.
- The bend at the top is the trickiest part. Draw the outer curve first, then the little inner curve and the short lines across the arch.
- Draw all the slanted stripes tilting in the same direction, and give them about the same space between each one so the cane looks neat.
Free candy cane coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this candy cane coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your candy cane drawing
Color the stripes red and leave the spaces between them white, then make the bow green or gold. For a twist, try a rainbow of stripes.
Candy cane fun fact for kids
Many candy canes are flavored with peppermint, and people hang them on Christmas trees as decorations.
Questions about drawing a candy cane
What shapes do I need to draw a candy cane?
You need a tall shape that curves over at the top into a hook, a few slanted lines for stripes, and two rounded loops plus a small rounded square for the bow.
How do I make my candy cane stripes look even?
Make tiny pencil dots along both edges at equal spaces, then connect each pair of dots with a slanted line.
How do I draw the curved hook of a candy cane?
Draw it like an upside-down letter U. Start with the outside curve, bring the right side down to a flat foot, then add the small lines across the bend.
