Making a Teacup Candle – Craft Gossip

I found a cute teacup at the thrift store today and thought it would make a pretty container candle. I used EL SOY Millennium blend for containers, which is a combination of soy and other natural waxes.

To hold the wick in place, I placed a bit of glue on the wick tab with a glue gun. I also used a popsicle stick to hold it straight at the top. After it cracks, it sort of works as a clamp. You could also attempt to make a neat hole in the center, but this works.

This soft wax has a low melting point of 125 F(52C), so it really doesn’t need to be heated above 150F(65C). I usually use a coffee can placed into a pot of water as a double boiler because it works and I have tons of them.

Once it melted, I added one chip of hunter green dye. It’s best to let your candle wax cool down even further before adding any fragrance because otherwise it may evaporate. Some sort of minty scent would have matched green, but I only had vanilla.

Creating teacup candles is a nice way to display pretty cups that are just gathering dust. It would also be a perfect project for recycling chipped teacups that are no good for sipping tea.

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I’ll admit it — I used to hate topstitching. Every time I tried, it looked like a toddler had gone wild with a crayon. My lines were crooked, my thread kept fraying or snapping mid-stitch, and I spent more time hunched over with a seam ripper than actually sewing anything. It was frustrating, messy, and honestly, it made me avoid finishing details altogether.

Then one weekend, while visiting my grandmother — a retired tailor with decades of wisdom stitched into every piece of clothing she’s ever made — I casually mentioned my topstitching disaster. She gave me that knowing smile (the kind that says, “Ah yes, I remember being there too”), and invited me to her sewing room.

That afternoon changed everything.

She showed me how to slow down, how to stabilize my fabric properly, and which threads actually hold up under pressure. She introduced me to her favorite topstitching needle, adjusted my tension, and even shared the trick of using a walking foot for those pesky layers. Watching her sew was like witnessing magic in motion. The stitches glided effortlessly, straight and even, and suddenly I realized — this wasn’t about perfection. It was about preparation, patience, and practice.

Now? Topstitching is one of my favorite finishing touches. It’s no longer a source of stress — it’s a moment of pride. And every time I finish a piece with a crisp, clean line, I think of my grandmother and smile.

Why Your Topstitching Sucks (And How to Fix It)

1. You’re Using the Wrong Thread

That all-purpose thread? It’s like trying to paint a masterpiece with sidewalk chalk. For topstitching that pops:

Aurifil 40wt – My go-to for invisible yet strong stitching
Gütermann topstitching thread – That beautiful sheen makes my jeans look store-bought
Coats Machine Quilting thread – When I want bold, noticeable stitches

Pro tip: I keep all three in my topstitching kit and match the thread to the project’s personality.

2. Your Needle is Sabotaging You

After ruining countless projects, I learned:

Topstitching needles have a bigger eye so the thread doesn’t fray
Size 90/14 is my sweet spot for most fabrics
I change needles every two major projects (cheap insurance!)

Fun experiment: Try sewing with a fresh needle vs. one you’ve used for 10 hours. The difference will shock you.

3. You’re Ignoring the Little Things

Here’s my pre-topstitching ritual:

Thread conditioner – I rub my thread through beeswax for tough fabrics
Tension test strip – I always sew on scraps first (saves so much frustration)
Guide tape – Painter’s tape is my secret for perfectly straight lines

True confession: I used to skip these steps thinking they wasted time. Now I know they actually save hours of rework.

When Disaster Strikes (Quick Fixes)

Frayed thread?

Try a thread net or conditioner
Shorten your stitch length slightly
Switch to a topstitching needle

Uneven stitches?

Clean your feed dogs (lint is the silent killer)
Use consistent foot pressure
Try a walking foot for tricky fabrics

My favorite trick: When topstitching denim, I put tracing paper underneath. It stabilizes the fabric and just tears away afterward – total game changer!

The Real Secret

After years of trial and error, here’s what I’ve learned: perfect topstitching isn’t about having the steadiest hand. It’s about setting up your machine properly before you even start. These days, I actually enjoy topstitching (crazy, right?). What used to be my nemesis is now one of my favorite techniques.