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Idea 8
Candle dressed in fabric
Wrapping candles in fabric is an old decorative resource, widely used in European rural crafts to finish rustic candles. It works because the melted wax impregnates the fabric and, as it cools, saturates it — the cloth becomes part of the candle, translucent and with no risk of direct flame at the edge.
What you need
- Fine cotton fabric pieces (open weave, like gauze or voile)
- Simple paraffin candles or wax to melt
- A glass jar for a double boiler
- Brush or wooden stick
- A deep container with cold water (optional)
- Twine or ribbon to tie the top
How to make it
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1
Cut the fabric into a strip that wraps the candle with 0.8 in to spare; open-weave fabrics let the candlelight pass through better.
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2
Melt a little wax in a double boiler; the liquid wax will impregnate the fibers and adhere the fabric to the candle without glue.
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3
Wrap the fabric around the candle, leaving slack at the base, and quickly dip the whole thing into the warm wax — a quick dip keeps the fabric from absorbing too much and losing its texture.
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4
Remove, smooth the base, and press gently to settle it; if you want a stiffer finish, dip it in the wax again and then in cold water to set in seconds.
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5
Tie twine at the top for a nice drape and trim the excess fabric 1 to 1.5 in above the candle.
Finishing touches
Light it only after trimming the excess fabric, and blow out the candle when it gets near the fabric — the translucent effect looks lovely in a group, with fabric pieces of different patterns at the center of the table.
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