DIY Beeswax Wraps – they are in my Pinterest and Instagram feeds. I have seen them in stores so naturally, when my Bee’s Life fabric collection was coming out I had to learn more and give them a try!
Beeswax wraps have been around for decades and gaining popularity in recent years as people try to use less plastic and are more concerned with reducing their carbon footprint. What did our grand and great grandparents do before Costco sold copious amounts of super clingy wrap? They used paper, fabric or they, too, made beeswax wraps!
There are a variety of ways to make them – and I almost made myself crazy researching. Some people keep it quick and simple, using beeswax, fabric and an iron.
Others add jojoba and pine rosin – these ingredients make them a bit stickier so they cling better and have anti-bacterial properties. After discussing the wraps my niece made at school with my sister-in-law, she said she’d prefer the stickier version so I decided to try that.
In this tutorial I’ve used my Bee’s Life fabric, manufactured and sold by Riley Blake Designs. Ask for it at your favorite fabric retailer in person or online!
SOME BASIC BEESWAX WRAP TRUTHS TO KEEP IN MIND
- They are not plastic cling wrap so don’t expect them to work exactly the same.
- Because they are wax, you can’t wash them in hot water (or the wax will end up in your sink) so you can’t use them with meat.
- They don’t last forever and may require the occasional pop in the oven to redistribute the wax. (I’ll explain that in the directions)
THE BENEFITS OF BEESWAX WRAPS
- They reduce use of plastic and other materials we use once (maybe twice) and throw away, thereby helping the environment. Every little bit counts and when we all do a little bit it adds up!
- You can make whatever size you want.
- They are cute! You can make them from whatever fabric you like so they will be to your taste and style – guaranteed!
They make unique and thoughtful gifts.
3 WAYS TO MAKE BEESWAX WRAPS
No matter which way you decide to go, the first step is the same: choose and prepare your fabric.
- Use 100% cotton fabric.
PREWASH and cut to size. To avoid fraying, I recommend cutting the edges with pinking shears or a pinking or wavy rotary cutter. - Some common sizes include: 5″, 6″, 8″, 12″ or 14″ squares
- If you know the kinds of things you will use them for, measure your bowls, sandwiches, etc and decide what size you want.
- If you are making them as gifts, 2-3 different sizes gives the receiver a variety to choose from.
BEESWAX-ONLY IRON METHOD
To make the wraps in the quickest time with the least number of supplies, follow the directions in this great video tutorial from Amanda at MaterialGirlQuilts.com, below or CLICK HERE to read her blog post at MaterialGirlQuilts.com >
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- 100% cotton fabric cut to your desired size
- Beeswax Pellets
- Parchment Paper
- Iron
BEESWAX PLUS – 3 WAYS TO MAKE THEM
If you want a stickier and more pliable wrap, adding pine rosin and jojoba oil will help. The pine rosin adds some stickiness and helps it adhere and the jojoba oil makes the whole thing softer and more pliable.
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
100% cotton fabric cut to your desired size
Beeswax Pellets
Pine Rosin (I used a 2 parts beeswax to 1 part rosin ratio)
If your pine rosin is in chucks, put it between parchment paper and roll over it with a rolling pin to make it a powder – it will melt easier and more evenly.
a few drops of jojoba oil
Parchment Paper
Cookie Sheet with sides
Paintbrush (I used a silicone cooking brush)
Iron OR Oven OR Stovetop & Oven
BEESWAX PLUS – IRON METHOD
- Combine beeswax and pine rosin & sprinkle them over your fabric.
- Drizzle a few drops of jojoba oil around the fabric – this isn’t necessary but makes the wraps softer.
- Cover the fabric with another piece of parchment paper and iron until the wax and rosin melts.
BEESWAX PLUS – OVEN METHOD
- Put parchment paper on a cookie sheet with sides (you don’t want to risk wax escaping off the side of a flat cookie sheet and landing on the bottom of your oven!)
- Place your fabric on the parchment.
- Combine beeswax and pine rosin & sprinkle them over your fabric.
- Drizzle a few drops of jojoba oil around the fabric – this isn’t necessary but makes the wraps softer.
- Bake at 200 degrees for a few minutes to melt it and then use a paintbrush to evenly coat the fabric.
- Hang to dry. Be sure to put newspaper or recycling down to catch any drips.
BEESWAX PLUS – DOUBLE BOILER & OVEN METHOD
I seem to have tried the most complicated method – can’t remember why!
I melted the beeswax, pine rosin and jojoba oil together in a double boiler and then painted it onto my fabric. You have to work quickly as the wax doesn’t remain a liquid very long once removed from the heat. (This is probably why my first batch had a bit too much wax on them!)
I spread the mixture as best I could before it solidified and then put them on a pan and into the oven at 200 degrees for a few minutes to make sure the fabric was saturated. This also allowed me to fix any areas that had too much wax and make sure it was spread out.
One of my favorite parts of this project was seeing the pretty fabrics hanging to dry!
HOW TO USE YOUR BEESWAX WRAPS
Once you make the wraps they are easy to use.
You can wrap a sandwich and the heat from your hands will help the fabric stick. Want it extra secure – and to add a real old school look? Wrap a piece of string around it too!
Place the wraps over bowls, cups and more to seal in freshness. If they don’t stick to the sides easily hold your hands on the sides and the heat will help them adhere.
How to wash your beeswax wraps.
You don’t want to use hot water because it will melt the wax. Use cold soapy water and a sponge, scrub clean and let drip-dry.
Voila – you are done!
If you make and post any on social media using these instructions I’d love to see – be sure to tag me!
🐝 Tara Reed
P.S. Want to see more projects using my Bee’s Life Fabric? CLICK HERE >
Materials Used in this Project:
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How much of each ingredient did you use and how many wraps did it make roughly?
I’m so sorry but I honestly don’t remember! I did that quite a while ago…
I made these, but I had difficulty with the pine rosin gumming up and not blending with the wax…any suggestions? I have powdered pine rosin and measured carefully. 2:1 ratio.
I’m not 100% sure to be honest – maybe the heat was a little high and caused the gumming up? Please lmk if you figure it out!
What about washing the wraps when they get dirty?
You don’t want to use hot water because it will melt the wax. Use cold soapy water and a sponge, scrub clean and let drip-dry.