My foot's in my mouth...or not?

[Constance G.]

OK ladies, set me straight. As I have traveled around Florida the last 3 weeks, I have had the good fortune to visit several lovely quilt shops. I was visiting one today, when I overheard a sales clerk tell a customer that she should iron waxed paper to her fabric to stabilize it for writing. Here's the foot-in-mouth part: before even thinking I blurted out "you mean FREEZER paper." She informed me that waxed paper works fine. For real? I've been quilting for 15+ years, and this is the first mention of wax paper I've encountered. How about the rest of you?

[Rita C.]

Not sure what waxed paper is but maybe it's what we call butcher's paper and that works just the same as freezer paper. I can't see how it would be any cheaper though 'cause you would still have to buy it.

[Susan B.]

Hmmm, I guess if we owned waxed paper we could try it, personally haven't used it in years. I think butcher's paper is thicker. Does it have a waxy side?

[Margo C.]

Hmmmmm.....I haven't tried it, but it seems to me that the heat required to adhere the waxed paper to the fabric would also cause the other side of the paper to adhere firmly to the ironing surface, or to the iron or to a pressing cloth. That is one of the advantages of freezer paper....it is only waxy on one side.

I hope anyone who has tried it will let us know how it works!!

[Margo C.]

Susan, I haven't had any waxed paper in years either. So many better choices!

Rita, waxed paper is translucent with "wax" on both sides. We used to use it to wrap sandwiches and leftovers before zip-lock bags were so readily available, but it's not nearly as effective at keeping things fresh.

[Constance G.]

Susan, I haven't had any waxed paper in years either. So many better choices!

Rita, waxed paper is translucent with "wax" on both sides. We used to use it to wrap sandwiches and leftovers before zip-lock bags were so readily available, but it's not nearly as effective at keeping things fresh.

As those of us who had our school lunch sandwiches wrapped in waxed paper can attest to!

[Constance G.]

You know how soft drinks are called "soda" in some states, "pop" in others, "coke" for ANY flavor in yet others? I'm wondering if they call "freezer paper" by the name "waxed paper" in Atlanta area? After all, one side of freezer paper is "waxy".

I too, have both in my kitchen, although I no longer seem to use the waxed paper (wax on both sides) except for wrapping Parmigiano Reggiano for long-term storage in the fridge. (Recently I was trying to explain to an Italian friend how "biscuits" are not the word for "biscotti" in America, the word is "cookies"... and what American "biscuits" actually are... British English vs American have many cases where the words for X are totally different and mean Y in the other language.)

Whatcha think of this premise?

[wendy w.]

The paper that's shiny one side that comes round reams of computer paper works fine as well. I wonder if they meant that.

[wendy w.]

Sounds like 'wax paper' in the states could be our 'greasproof paper' in uk, now here is a curious thing I was talking to my Dad the other day about different types of paper, and he mentioned that to make greasproof paper it was dipped in an (acid?) bath which 'melts' the outer surface of the paper and causes it to go translucent & shiny (all the molacules smooth out & join up) and this is what makes it 'grease' proof.

I will give it a whirl & report back. But as Wendy says, I go for the wrappers of reams of copier paper too, unfortunately they are not all suitable as I have found out to my cost

[Constance G.]

Susan, I haven't had any waxed paper in years either. So many better choices!

Rita, waxed paper is translucent with "wax" on both sides. We used to use it to wrap sandwiches and leftovers before zip-lock bags were so readily available, but it's not nearly as effective at keeping things fresh.

Actually, I do still keep waxed paper at home, and use it to cover food I'm reheating in the microwave (about as close as I get to "cooking" most days!). It prevents the food from exploding all over the inside of the microwave, but doesn't "shrink-wrap" it like heated plastic wrap tends to do. When we return home next week I'll do the waxed-paper-on-fabric experiment and report back. :roll:

[Margo C.]

Thanks Connie!

[Susan B.]

, I do still keep waxed paper at home, and use it to cover food I'm reheating in the microwave

I invert another plate or bowl over the food, or use a silicone hot pad if I'm heating a bowl. I don't like microwaving plastic either!

I'd like to hear about the waxed paper as backing though. I can't imagine that it would provide enough stability.

[karen f.]

When we used to iron waxed paper over leaves and crayons for crafts we would put down a paper towel between the iron and the wax paper. Wouldn't that work well to iron the wax paper to your cloth? Use the paper towel as a pressing cloth.

[Susan B.]

Would the wax wash out?

[Lois B.]

Connie, I think I'd been right there with you with my foot in my mouth. I have my doubts about waxed paper. I can't say for sure but I think freezor paper has a plastic coating and not wax. I think it softens over the fibers in the cloth but does not melt into them. I know from ironing waxed paper over Fall leaves that it does leave a wax residue on the leaf. I think the wax would melt into the fabric and stay there. I think for the most part the plastic -like coating on freezor paper only softens over the exposed fibers and completely pulls away from the fabric and stays on the paper other wise we couldn't use it over and over again. When it looses its ability to melt fast I think it's because so much lint has accumulated on the coating and not because the coating has melted into the fabric. I with Margo thinking wax on both side would be problamatic.