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Candlewick embroideryCandlewicking is a traditional white on white embroidery, done on white linen or cotton fabric with heavy cotton threads used for making candle wicks. Most notably, the stitches used were knots, both Colonial and French, as well as stem stitch. More stitches were added as this became popular, such as buttonholing, satin stitches, fishbone, herringbone, coral and straight stitch and lazy daisy. Color also became popular. This very thick embroidery resembles white trapunto quilting when seen from any distance or in pictures! Instead of the cording being stuffed into channels, the channels were on top of the bedspreads leaving many shadows on the white fabric, emulating quilting stitches! When such heavy threads and stitches are used over a vast area, the effect can be very elegant, where traditional whitework embroidery would be lost. Women in England embroidered lovely white bedspreads during the late 1600s with designs of vines, flowers and baskets of fruit done in French knots and couched cords. This technique would naturally have made it to America and by the last few years of the 1700s, American women were making up candlewick bedspreads, pillows and clothing. Wicking for candles was used instead of the couched cords, hence the name candlewicking, and undoubtedly lesser quality cotton and linen fabrics were used. 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." (This from American Needlework, Harbeson.) Ms. Harbeson states that "Each stitch was raised on the surface slightly by passing the loop over a small twig and making a series of small running stitches. Sometimes the knot was cut; more often in the earlier work it was left uncut, and these examples retain a certain distinction in their fine, tight wicking, graceful patterning and a generally refined, neat appearance." This sounds like the beginnings of turkey work to me. Many quilting patterns were used for this, using knots instead of the running stitch which gives us the candlewicking recognized today. Colors are popular as well as the more traditional white-on-white. Popular threads are the perle cottons and crochet cottons, in any and all sizes. The more different stitches, the more different effects you have. Embroidered fabric was washed in hot water to promote shrinking which intensified the shadow look.
For further reading, try these: Traditional Candlewicking by Sandie Meldrum American Needlework by Georgiana Brown Harbeson Unique Candlewicking Collection, Milner Series
Much of my information was graciously provided by Rhonda via email, and I will be forever grateful for all of her research and generosity in sharing it! Thank you, Rhonda. Her sources included: Shariane Designs, Inc. booklet titled Rainbow Chasers booklet entitled Candlewick Cameo Lacies from TJ&H Publications, 1982
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