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If you’re planning to redecorate your room with a vintage concept in mind, get your hands on a candlewick bedspread to achieve the look. Clueless on this type of bed cover? You might have seen one of these at your grandparents’ house or antique stores. These vintage look bedspreads look great but are also very versatile. To see our top picks for candlewick bedspreads CLICK HERE.
The modern-day version is more baroque in style, but the traditional simplicity and uniqueness of the embroidery patterns live on.
What Is A Candlewick Bedspread?
It is a type of bedspread uniquely embroidered with candlewick yarn. Candlewick embroidery patterns are formed by tufting or roving the yarn on top of an unbleached muslin cloth.
Stitching styles include the Colonial knot, the French knot, running stitch, satin stitch, back stitch, and stem stitch.
History
The art of candle wicking dates back to the 1700s when people traveled far to find suitable places to live.
Settlers could only bring necessities with them, so the women had to be resourceful in decorating their prairie homes.
The women used candle wicks to embroider instead of cotton threads. To conserve their supplies, they created open-look patterns that didn’t require many threads.
Instead of the heavily threaded embroidery, the women used colonial knots and simple stitches.
The popularity of hand-embroidered bedspreads waned in the 1840s due to the introduction of machine embroidered bed covers.
These days, the love for candlewick bedspreads has been revived due to the popularity of the vintage concept.
Designs
Popular patterns used are the American eagle, cornucopia, and floral baskets. A candlewick bedspread usually has central designs with leaves or geometrically patterned borders.
Traditionally, candlewick bedspreads were made with white muslin fabric and white candlewick threads.
Nowadays, a variety of colors are available in the market.
4 Tips on Buying a Candlewick Bedspread
- Make sure the patterns do not clash with your room’s interior. The traditional candlewick designs are simple, but the newer ones often have more intricate embroidery.
- The bedspread’s color should complement the color of your walls and furnishings so everything in your room will be easy on the eyes.
- Choose a fabric that matches the season. Candlewick bedspreads are not as thick as comforters so it may not be enough to warm you up during the chilly winter season.
- The size of your bed should match the size of the bedspread. If it’s too big or too small for your bed, it will lose its charm.