Wax stamping

1 What will you need? Ponge 5 silk, dye for use on silk, a cork, round and flat natural bristle brushes (to withstand the hot wax), beeswax, paraffin, a metal bowl and pan, packing paper, newspaper, iron, needle and thread.

2 Prepare wax suitable for stamping by combining equal parts of beeswax and paraffin (you can use white candles, such as tea candles). Warm in a water bath to a temperature high enough so that when the wax is on the brush, it is translucent and can penetrate the fabric. The gift bags can be made by first stamping the silk and then sewing the bags. The pattern will be different on either side of the bag. We used the option of first sewing the bags, ironing them well and then stamping them. The bag will then have the same pattern on both sides – the silk is so fine that the wax easily penetrates through both layers.

3 Dye the finished bags using textile dye, following the instructions on the package. Select a light base colour so that additional colours can be used on it. Use cardboard or paper padding underneath the silk. Stamp the silk using a cork that has been dipped in hot wax. Occasionally lift the silk between stamps to make sure it does not adhere to the padding.

4 When the pattern is finished, turn the bag over and, if necessary, use a brush to correct and fill in the contours.

5 Brush dye for silk over the entire bag and let dry well. (We used brick red.)

6 Then repeat the process, again stamping the fabric with a corkscrew; the polka dots can also partially overlap.

7 After finishing the stamping and making any corrections, brush red dye over the silk. Place the dry silk between sheets of white packing paper and put 2-3 layers of newspaper on either side of the fabric.

8 Place an old cloth on the ironing board and put the newspaper-wrapped bag on this. Using an iron set to medium heat, iron the bag to remove the wax. As soon as the paper becomes oily from the wax, exchange it for clean paper. Continue until the wax has been completely removed.