How to Rescue Crumbling BeesWax !
Oh my gosh, isn't it annoying when your once smooth cake of beeswax gets all crumbly, scarred, and difficult to use? Well here was my poor pitiful cake of beeswax before I fixed it today---
Luckily it is fast and easy to get a cake of beeswax nice and smooth again. First, lay a piece of baker's parchment paper or aluminum foil on top of your ironing board. Next, place your crumbling beeswax on top of the parchment paper (or foil). Now with a hot steam iron...hold the iron above that poor pitiful crumbling wax, and give it a few good shots of steam...being careful not to actually touch the wax with your iron.
Here is my nice smooth beeswax cake after steaming. Yes, some of the wax will melt and you will lose a bit...but it sure beats running your thread through a scarred cake of wax and dealing with the crumbs !
(Oops! Did you get some wax on the bottom of your iron? Don't worry, just heat the iron and rub the sole-plate over some scrap 100% cotton fabric. The wax will melt into the fabric :)
If you think this little tip is useful, please take a moment and vote for me by clicking the black and red box (located to the left)...thanks !
Labels: Tips / Techniques
16 Comments:
Great little tip.
Sounds like a good tip, I have never used wax in sewing. When do you use this?
Sigrid, when doing hand sewing you run the thread through the wax to make it smoother and stronger. It also makes the thread less likely to tangle :)
What a great idea, Pam! I have thought of remelting my sad little cakes in the microwave but this is so much easier.
Great tip! Pam, when you wax your thread, do you then iron the thread so the wax melts into the thread? I've seen that recommendation and wonder if it is really necessary.
Adell...after I thread the needle, I usually lay the thread on the far end of my ironing board, put a warm iron on it, and slide the thread under the iron from the needle to the thread end. I am not sure if it makes that much of a difference, it's just a habit with me ;)
Thanks for this. This is the best sewing tip I've heard in a long time!
Great tip! Thank you!
I am asking a question
can you suggest some dvd's on sewing as there are so many to choose from "Threads" Crawford etc etc.
And what camera you use for taking
photos for blog
Thanks
Linda Rogers
my e-mail now is luvdog2@verizon.net
To Adell: If you don't "iron" the thread, there is a chance of the beeswax flaking off onto your fabric, then when pressed - "oh, oh" there is a little grease blot on the fabric. Don't ask me how I know!!!..........Lydia
Great tip! I went off and did it to mine and it's lovely again. Thanks.
Great idea! Mine looks like yours did in the first photo. Think I'll go do this now....
Is the bees wax only used for sealing the ends of the thread before it is inserted into the needle or are there other uses? My curious mind wants to know.
Excellent tip!!
I have two pretty pathetic looking beeswax discs and I can't wait to try your tip on them. Thanks for this.
If you iron your waxed thread on a brown paper bag, it will absorb the excess wax so it doesn't melt into your ironing board cover and then melt into the next thing you iron.
Hi Jan...
waxing hand-sewing thread, then melting it into the thread by running over the hot sole-plate of your iron...makes it smoother and stronger. It also makes the thread less likely to tangle :)
Post a Comment
<< Home