Since it's nearly Christmas, I have a few little things I'll be posting over the next couple of weeks that would make lovely handmade, inexpensive, yet awesome gift ideas.
Today, let's make some beeswax kitchen wraps!! In episode 3 of my podcast, I mentioned having made my own beeswax kitchen wraps this year (you use them in lieu of plastic kitchen wrap) and mentioned that I'd do a tutorial for them, so here you go.
These really would make amazing gifts - they're not only super pretty, but they're functional, can save you money and the less disposable plastic you can use in life, the better for the environment right?!
Oh, and did I mention that they're so so easy to make?
The supplies list is below and if you want to jump ahead to the various different topics covered within the tutorial, I have a list with start times after the video.
You'll need -
- Fabric (I use cotton fat quarters, but I do go into more detail about options in the video)
- Beeswax Pellets or shavings
- Baking Paper
- Baking tray with a lip
- Iron
- Drying rack
Topics Covered -
- 0.01 - Introductions: what is a beeswax wrap & different uses
- 1.49 - Taking care of your beeswax wraps & how to use them
- Supplies:
4.01 - Fabric options & finishing edges
6.19 - Beeswax
7.58 - Other supplies listed above. - Extra Notes:
8.46 - Different size wraps to consider for different uses
9.45 - Shelf-life & re-waxing older wraps - 12.22 - Let's get started with the tutorial already!
- 16.55 - The results of your hard work (and a note on jojoba oil & antibacterial things).
- 18.33 - Storage of your beeswax wraps
- 18.42 - Closing thoughts on this particular way to make beeswax kitchen wraps
Let me know if you have any questions or if you make some! I'd really love to see them :)
xx
J
I love this idea! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYay, you're welcome!!
DeleteHow cool! I wanna try :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tutorial, Jen! I'd never heard of this but I don't use plastic wrap so this would be useful.
ReplyDeleteYou could also make them circular and put elastic around the edge - not sure if you've seen those bowl covers but they seem handy (kind of like a shower cap?) for covering salads and bread bowls... Thanks!
YES! I've thought about doing something like that - I was wondering how the elastic would go once it had the wax melted into it... I need to experiment :)
Deletebrilliant tutorial - thank you!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea, thank you for the terrific tutorial. Will be making these, for sure. I try to use little to no plastic of any kind, so this is perfect.
ReplyDeleteHey Jen,
ReplyDeletethis is awesome. When thirds were at school we had reusable sandwich wraps, but I would love to be using wraps for stuff in the fridge. I definitely want them for Christmas lunch.
Just wondering how I would go about using raw beeswax blocks. Would I melt it first, then pour a bit of l wax & then iron it.
My bloke has a couple of beehives 🐝, so I clarity the wax we get out of the hives & when I saw your turotial I knew what I could start using it for.
Cheers Jayne
Hey Jayne!
DeleteOoh, beehives!! I'd love beehives, needless to say I'm not sure I'd quite be up to the job of looking after them, I'd be so scared I'd get stung (I've never been stung before, touch wood!). And how amazing to have wax and honey all the time - oh, and honey comb!!
I would go the easy route and just cut a few big-ish chunks off your big block as when the desire to make wraps struck. Then take those to the kitchen and cut them up a bit smaller once off the block (to approximately the size of the ones I had in the video, or shavings even! You're really just wanting to create surface area so the wax melts faster and to make it easier to deal with the wax) so that you can melt them easily with your iron.
I can't think of any need to melt, pour and then iron. Your chunks don't have to be beautiful, as they'll melt into your fabric anyway. It's really just about turning your wax into a manageable size to work with.
Hope that helps, and I'd love to see them if you ever do get around to making them!!
xx
J
I just finished making a bunch of these for myself and gifts! It was so easy and they turned out fabulously. I have never heard of them before your post. Interestingly, while making them I was watching a food history show where they talked about how great wax fabric is for keeping bread. The timing made me laugh. Thanks so much for enlightening me!!!
ReplyDelete