Long ago in every farmer's house a supply a candles was made at the beginning of the winter. This is how they did it in my grandmother's place but she says they were giving up the work when she was a very little girl. The people got the fat of a cow & melted it down into tallow. Then they plaited cotton thread to make a wick when a long plait was made it was cut into pieces a bit longer than the candle. Each piece of the plait was then dipped in the tallow & hung up to dry. By the time they were finished with the last bit of wick the first one was dry or nearly so & ready to be dipped again. The dipping was done several times till the candle was made.