The wick has always been the most important part
of the candle, even when centuries ago the candle wick was just a piece of reed
stuck into a bowl of tallow. Today wicks are made from cotton fibers woven
together, which come in various sizes and types. 

As the wick is lit, the melted wax is drawn up
through the fibers to create a lasting flame. When making a taper candle, the
wick is the core support of the candle, as it's dipped over and over again into
the wax.

Often times, when your candle doesn't burn
correctly it's because the wick is not the right size, so choosing the right
wick is important.  There are three basic wicks we're going to take a look
at, Flat braid, Square Braid and Cored.

Flat Braids, are used mostly for small
diameter pillar candles, beeswax rolled sheets and tapers. They are made by
weaving together three strands of cotton together and are measured in plies per
strand. The larger the ply, the larger the melt pool and the faster the burn.

Square Braids, can be used for beeswax
candles, large diameter pillars and novelty candles. They range in sizes by
numbers (from 1 - 10 ).  The number you choose depends on the diameter of
your candle.

Cored Wicks have a piece of metal that
runs through the cotton wick to provide support, often times this type of wick
is used in votives.

To choose the right size wick for your project
be sure to read Types of Wicks and Uses.