Lost Arts
Cand TlheewLoisct kAritnogf
B y Gayle Trent
Candlewicking is a
form of white-on-white embroidery.
This style of
embroidery is called
“candlewicking”
because originally the same thread that
colonial American women used to make
the wicks for their candles was used for
this form of embroidery. According to
www.Needlepointers.com, “[B]y the
last few years of the 1700s, American
women were making up candlewick
bedspreads, pillows and clothing. . . .
Due to the ‘economy law’ huge pieces of
cotton fabric were forbidden to be used
in such a wasteful manner. ‘One might
employ only what was at hand and not
needed for other utilitarian purposes.’ ”
Candlewicking makes use of
Colonial Knots, along with other
stitches (such as a backstitch), which
further enhance the design. A Colonial
Knot is a figure-eight type of knot that
is easier to make than it might sound.
To see a demonstration of how to make
a Colonial Knot, see this video from
Mary Corbet’s Needle ’N Thread site:
www.needlenthread.com/2007/03/em
broidery-stitch-video-tutorial.html.
If you’ve never made a Colonial Knot
before, you might want to practice on
a scrap piece of cloth until you get the
hang of it.
For candlewicking, you’ll need a
piece of muslin or cotton fabric,
pearl cotton floss, an embroidery
hoop, a size 22 or 24 chenille needle
or embroidery needle, a pattern or
design, and a washable fabric marker.
Many free candlewicking designs are
available online. I chose one created
by Margaret Upston. Print out the
design, and then, to darken the
