I feel a very personal responsibility for plastic waste as my father was instrumental in setting up the first polythene factory in the southern hemisphere, so when I read about waxed fabric food wrapping I thought: why not linen? I have plenty of scraps!
Dear Google. A search revealed products, DIY recipes, suggestions, so I ordered some Amish beeswax and waited. It arrived deliciously aromatic.
Some instructions add jojoba oil to make it more flexible but I didn't try that this time, just a baking sheet (with parchment paper), a swatch of our Smooth linen sheeting scraps torn to size, sprinkled generously with grated beeswax and melted carefully in a low oven - I didn't want it to ignite! Five minutes did the trick.
I used an old (but very clean!) paintbrush to smooth out any gaps and returned it to the oven for one minute, then let the sheets cool. I was surprised how much beeswax each one used!
First use was to wrap up a delicious stinky cheese. When it was finished, any mess rinsed off beautifully with a clean sponge and cool water.
Next a leftover half of a deli sandwich was given the treatment.
Each time the heat of my hands was enough to mould the linen to the food. I love this! When each sheet reaches the end of its useful life, I plan to roll it tightly and use it as a candle, or as a firelighter if the flames go a little too high for comfort!
Ask if you'd like a box of linen scraps to try your own - we'll send them to you for the cost of postage only. Email us at hello@roughlinen.com and we'll get a box out to you for the cost of shipping only. And please share your questions and experiences in the comment section below.
Happy recycling!
One day I will master how to answer comments on this journal, but meanwhile thank you all, especially that hint from Kathleen! Jennifer is answering all requests for scraps, but emailing hello@roughlinen.com is the direct way to get our attention.
Yes, please a box of linen scraps. A wonderful idea!
Your bedding is amazing.
I love these and have been making them for a while and would offer this bit of hard learned advice- DON’T let any beeswax drip off the pan/cookie sheet into the oven. At the low temp you use for these, it won’t seem like a big deal if it drips a little- you may not even notice- till the next day when you crank that hotbox into the 300+ range and the house fills with the most acrid, vile smoke you’ve ever smelled! I’ve made rectangular ones and sewn them into a snack pouch also.
Scraps! Yes, please!! I long for them! Thanks so much!
Connie
Omigoodnes s…I must try this. Yes please, I’d like a box of linen scraps also. How do I order?
Inspired! Brilliant and simple at the same time.
Wouldn’t these make nice stocking stuffers for my adult children? We’re all trying to be more environmentally conscious.
I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.
sleepless http://healthhint.eu/category/insomnia/
I absolutely love this post and ordered a box of scraps to make some wraps with beeswax from my hives. I can tell you care about quality and thought I should mention beeswax. You may already know, but it is estimated that most of the world’s beeswax supply is contaminated with pesticide residue. I’m a treatment-free beekeeper, which means that I do not use any treatments for pests in my hives (including essential oils and other “natural” treatments), and I’m one of many who is on a mission to educate the public about the practice of medicating beehives. The vast majority of beekeepers do treat and if you use wax to make these that comes from a treated hive, you are most likely ingesting harmful substances. There are many sites on the internet about TF beekeeping if you are interested (one of the pioneers of this method: http://www.beverlybees.com/). Just thought you should know, as most people I talk to are completely unaware. The safest thing to do is ask if the hive your honey or wax comes from has been treated with anything chemical or natural (there’s a danger in ingesting random essential oils). Thanks again for an inspiring post and allowing me to share :-)
Yes please, count me in on this very kind offer. Thank you. Wonderful way to share your offcuts and the environment!
yes, please! Scraps!
I would love some of these scraps. It is so important to me to cut down on the use of plastic wraps. I am going to order a mirage scarf – could the postage be combined because it has to come all the way to New Zealand.
P.S. – it might be safer to iron the fabric and beeswax between baking paper rather than put it in the oven. :)
I would love a box of linen scraps! Thank you!!
Amazing idea. I would like a box of scraps, please! We also just happened to put our linen sheets on the bed for this season (sheet + summer cover) on … how I missed my lovely linens!
Please send me a box of linen scraps. I’d like to offer this as an activity at a museum where I work. Thank you so much!
I would love a box of scraps…I bought some of these at a farmers market….gave as Christmas gifts…
Not sure of the material used on them…feel more food confident with YOUR linen : )
I would some some linen scraps!! I absolutely love this idea and in trying to be more conscious it is a perfect option with something I love! Linen!!
You can use sharp pinking shears to cut the edges of the fabric. Looks nice!
something that would have never occurred to me – what a great idea!
Oh, I’d love to try this at home! At least a year ago I bought some of the Bee’s Wrap products, which are used exactly as you used your home made wrap. But the Bee’s Wrap has a strong aroma (possibly the jojoba oil) and imparted that aroma, and its flavor, to the baguette I wrapped in it. Because of that aroma, I haven’t used it since (I admit that I am exceedingly sensitive to fragrance).
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Carrie Krumrie
December 18, 2019
Wanted to make these wraps, but had read that they needed the oil with it! Bought the bees wax!!! Tomorrow the wraps!
I could use more scraps for these!
Carrie Krumrie