Tutorial: Make Your Own Beeswax Wraps

To kick off Plastic Free July (a worldwide challenge to refuse single use plastic), I thought I would share with you how ridiculously easy it is to make your own beeswax wraps. And if you are in the sewing community anyway, chances are you will have plenty of fabric scraps that are suitable to be turned into beeswax wraps. No sewing required.

You can buy beeswax pellets in yellow or white - I chose white because I didn't want my fabric to discolour. There are many other tutorials online which also include pine resin (which increases the stickiness) and jojoba oil (which is antibacterial) but I'm keeping it simple here.

What you need:

Fabric - I used quilting cotton from my stash

Beeswax pellets

Scissors or pinking shears

Baking parchment

Baking sheet

Electric oven

Pastry brush or clean paint brush (optional but useful)

Apron to prevent wax getting on your clothes

What to do:

1. Make sure your fabric is clean and ironed.

2. Draw out your pieces on the fabric. Thinking about ways in which you might use your wraps will determine what shapes to cut out. I went for an assortment of bowl and plate sizes by using a larger plate as a template as well as some rectangles. 

3. Cut, using pinking shears if you prefer them over scissors. The wax should prevent too much fraying.

4. Heat your oven to around 100C.

5. Line your baking sheet with the baking parchment.

6. Place your fabric on the parchment and liberally sprinkle with beeswax pellets.

7. "Bake" for around 4-5 minutes or until the pellets have melted. Use the brush to move any pellets around where coverage is not even and ensure they have melted.

8. Once melted, remove from oven and carefully peel from parchment. You should do this with tongs. 

9. Hang to dry and repeat with your next piece of fabric. They dry in minutes.

How to use

The wraps are impregnated with the wax on both sides. To use, simple use your hands to mould around your food, plate or bowl. Alternatively fold into an envelope to hold lunch items or snacks.They aren't going to adhere together in quite the same way as cling film, so feel free to improvise with an elastic band. I am happy to wrap cut fruit or cooked food with a wrap but I would be more cautious with wrapping raw meat - I don't like raw meat at the best of times but I would be happier covering a bowl of raw meat than wrapping it directly.

Keeping it clean!

Wash in cool water with your usual washing up liquid. Leave to dry.

Every now and again, you may wish to reinvigorate your wraps by placing back in the oven for a few minutes. Of course, you can add more pellets as required.

Love Mrs Jones x