Want to avoid plastic fabrics? Concerned that natural fabrics aren’t waterproof? You can waterproof your natural fabrics with wax. This is a diy waxed fabric roundup.
Introduction
Synthetic fibres like nylon, polyester, polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) aren’t biodegradable. Natural fibres like cotton, linen, wool, and silk are biodegradable. Natural fibre are also breathable due to their hollow structure. This means they are neither water-resistant nor water-proof. Waxes are waterproof so adding them to natural fibres imparts their water-proof characteristics to the natural fibres. Waxed linen, waxed cotton and waxed linen-cotton fabrics are available commercially and you can make your own.
1) Fabrics
Waxed linens, cottons and linen-cotton fabrics are woven fabrics. Waxing will add weight, stiffness and possibly tack to your woven cotton and/or linen fabrics. You can wax an item that you’ve purchased or made. You can also wax a piece of fabric then use it to sew your projects. Cotton and linen fabrics are available in a variety of weights from ultralight (under 3 oz/yd²) to ultraheavy (over 11.8 oz/yd²). Different fabric weights are suited for different applications. There are three applications for waxed fabrics: gear, clothing and food storage.
2) Gear
Cotton was a popular material for tents, tarps, packs, bags and sails long before polyester and nylon were invented. Coat cotton with paraffin or beeswax to create waxed cotton. Melt beeswax in a double boiler then paint it onto your gear and either remelt the wax on your gear in the hot sun or iron your gear to remelt the wax into your fabric. Alternatively place your item on a foil-lined baking sheet and cover it with grated paraffin wax. Bake at 300 °F to melt the paraffin and repeat until all sides of your item have been coated.
Melt 1 part drying oil with 2 parts beeswax (previously melted in a double boiler) for a more pliable coating. Drying oils like linseed oil (aka flaxseed oil), tung oil and walnut oil harden into a tough film when dried. This oxidation reaction releases heat. Spread this mixture on your item then place your item in a 300 °F oven on a foil-lined baking sheet. Remove from the heat when all of the wax has been absorbed and dry/cool flat.
Make a leather conditioner that could also be used for fabric gear and clothing with 1 part beeswax and 1 part coconut oil . Melt 1 part beeswax with 2 parts carrier oil for even more pliable items. Petroleum jelly is the recommended carrier oil for this recipe due to it’s ability to penetrate into your gear and lock in the beeswax. You can also use linseed oil, shea butter, coconut oil or soy bean oil.
Add pine tar to increase pliability and durability and, enhance waterproofness of outdoor gear.
3) Clothing
Waxed clothing is more waterproof and less breathable than unwaxed clothing. Waxed clothing needs to move with the wearer without the wax flaking off. Oilcloth (made from linseed oil or boiled linseed oil) was used for clothing centuries ago. Coat cotton or linen with boiled linseed oil to create oilcloth. Linseed oil (aka flaxseed oil) polymerizes as it oxidizes, becoming plasticized. Linseed oil is highly flammable. Make oilcloth by coating your fabric with linseed oil or 1 part turpentine to 2 parts linseed oil. Alternatively use 1 part linseed oil to 1 part mineral spirits.
Waxed cotton is made with beeswax. Melt 1 part beeswax with 1 part coconut oil for a leather conditioner that could be used on gear and clothing. You could also use 1 part beeswax with 1 part paraffin wax for clothing applications. Alternatively use 1 cup of mineral oil to 1 pound of beeswax. This formula works well for clothing, gloves, packs, bags and bedsheet tarps due to it’s flexibility.
4) Food Storage
Beeswax wraps are an alternative to plastic wrap and plastic snack and/or sandwich bags. Quilting weight cotton and similar weights of 100% cotton, hemp and linen fabric are often used to make beeswax wraps. Cut your fabric with pinking shears to avoid fraying. Place your fabric on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with beeswax. Place in a 150°F to 200°F oven to melt the beeswax then spread the wax with a paint brush and hang your wrap to cool and dry.
Use a food safe drying oil and pine resin to increase pliability and stickiness of food wraps. Melt beeswax, jojoba oil and pine resin in a double boiler then brush onto your fabric. Warm your fabric in a 300° F oven to remelt the wax into your wrap. Melt carnuaba wax, jojoba oil and pine resin together for a vegan/beeswax-free alternative
Conclusion
There are lots of techniques and recipes for diy waxed fabric. Cotton and linen fabrics in several weights can be used depending upon your intended use. Use food safe ingredients for food wraps. Skin safe ingredients are a good idea for waxed clothing. Paraffin wax, beeswax and , carnuaba wax have different properties that you may wish to take advantage off. Adding carrier oils or drying oils (eg mineral oil, petroleum jelly, linseed oil and coconut oil) results in a more flexible waxed item. Which carrier oil and how much may depend upon personal preference and the intended use of your final project.
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Tanya
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