Candle making & soap making were the two most time-consuming activities for the home (and critical). Using molds or tallow dipping were the two ways of making candles. Women collected the tallow from meat fats, bought the wicking & iron molds, and provided the skill & labor. Significant experience was necessary to be able to make dipped candles because the candle mixture must be just the right temperature for the candle to take another layer of wax. It is interesting to note that each candle had a brightness comparable to our 10 watt bulb and was used mainly for reading & sewing. Their lives in the winter were much darker than ours are today.
