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Making your own beeswax wraps: Never done it before? No problem!

04.01.2019 by Sabine Schmidt

Bienenwachstuch selber machen: Noch nie gemacht? Kein Problem!

Make your own beeswax wrap - with beeswax! Coating cotton yourself is so easy. You just need fabric, beeswax, coconut oil, and a little time. I’ll show you how it’s done.

When I want a specific fabric in a coated version, the answer is often: no luck.

Usually, the fabrics I like aren't available as coated material. What could be more obvious than simply coating the cotton yourself?

Make your own beeswax wrap

It takes a bit of time, but it’s a lot of fun. And the result is impressive, with a soft wax finish and water-repellent properties.

I’ve tried many ways to make fabric waterproof. This is my new favorite method! :)

Of course, your homemade waxed fabric can be sewn just like any other coated fabric.

The fabric can be hand-washed in lukewarm water.

What you should look out for when you want to make your own beeswax wrap

The beeswax will end up completely saturating the fabric. If the fabric is yellow or green, you can easily use yellow beeswax.

However, if you want to be sure that the fabric stays color-true, it is better to use white beeswax.

A word about the dishes

Beeswax residue on tools is difficult to remove. I recommend using old pots, bowls, baking sheets, and brushes, or cleaning the equipment after use with balsam turpentine oil*.

What you need to make your own beeswax wrap

Note on the mixture: You can also, for example, just use 100g of beeswax plus 5g of spruce resin. The resin ensures the long durability of the wraps and has an antibacterial effect. Furthermore, the resin ensures that the wax and fabric bond more firmly.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Step-by-step instructions

Picture tutorial for the beeswax wrap

From cotton, canvas or linen fabric, beeswax, coconut oil and a little pine resin, you'll make a water-repellent, reusable beeswax wrap using the oven/iron sandwich method.

Important: beeswax residue is very hard to remove — use old pots, brushes and a baking tray. If you want the fabric to keep its true colours, use white instead of yellow beeswax.

  1. Step

    Cut the fabric and place it on a baking tray

    Cut the fabric into two pieces of equal size. Alternatively, you can fold the piece in half and coat only one half with wax.

    Place the first piece of fabric on a baking tray lined with baking paper.

    Cut the fabric and place it on a baking tray
  2. Step

    Heat and apply the wax and oil mixture

    Heat 84 g beeswax pellets and 14 g coconut oil, add 5 g crushed spruce resin and stir everything into a liquid mixture.

    Quickly brush the hot wax and oil mixture onto the fabric — the wax should go onto the fabric as hot as possible.

    Heat and apply the wax and oil mixture
  3. Step

    Place the second piece of fabric on top and iron

    Place the second piece of fabric exactly on top of the first, cover both layers with baking paper again and iron everything until the top piece is soaked with wax too.

    Then separate the two layers again.

    Place the second piece of fabric on top and iron
  4. Step

    Remove excess wax

    Place kitchen roll under and over each piece of fabric and iron slowly over it. The kitchen roll soaks up the excess wax.

    Remove excess wax
  5. Step

    Let the wax wrap cool and use it

    Leave the fabric lying flat until it has cooled completely. Then you can cut and sew the beeswax wrap however you like.

    The wax makes the fabric translucent. You can simply blow out any crease marks from sewing later with a hairdryer.

    Let the wax wrap cool and use it

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.