Tuesday, November 9, 2010

"Green" reusable gift wrap



I'm again joining in at the Quiltstory blog's "Fabric Tuesday" link party! I decided to write about using reusable fabric instead of wrapping paper.

I grew up far away from extended family, and just have one brother, so a pile of wrapping paper wasn't usually a big deal in our house. But after getting married, and living closer to extended family, I was shocked one year at the piles of wrapping paper that were throw out, some literally minutes after they had been used to wrap the present. Soon after, I made up a bunch of Christmas gift bags, using clearance Christmas fabric I bought after Christmas and started using these bags to wrap presents. My husband especially loves them, as you just pop the present in there, and pull the draw strings. I hate wrapping presents with paper, have never been very good at it, so it's a no-brainer for me as well.

As years went by, I decided it wasn't enough to give a gift bag that may only be used a few times a year, and started giving gifts away wrapped in reusable shopping bags and pillow cases that I make. This was after I had decided to be a stay at home mom and no longer worked outside of the home. It was also after my kids were a bit older and I could leave the sewing machine out without it being sabotaged by little fingers and hands.

Recently I discovered the Japanese art of Furoshiki, or fabric gift wrapping. Think origami, only with fabric instead, and around a present. Here's a fun youtube video that shows how to do it. It's a bit too much like using wrapping paper for my tastes, but it's fascinating to watch, and would be a most excellent way to wrap any gift for a quilter (using some yummy fat quarters or quilt fabric!).

So what are you waiting for? Grab some fabric now for Christmas / Hanukkah and start sewing! If I ever get my project list whittled down, I may try to sell a few on etsy soon!

9 comments:

Oh Sew Addicted said...

Stopping by from Fabric Tuesday. I love your idea. I feel the same way! I cannot believe how much paper is thrown away at Christmas and it is a good idea to sew together some reusable bags! I will have to see what I have in my stash for Christmas fabric. Have a great day!
carla louise
www.ohsewaddicted.com

Anonymous said...

Lovely...the lizard fabric is cute! =)

QuilterMary said...

I've been thinking about doing this too ... now I have even more incentive! THANKS!

Charissa said...

Great idea - I love the idea of turning reusable bags into a Christmas tradition, right along with the ornaments and cookies. Well done!

Hope said...

That is just an awesome idea! Enough to get me back upstairs again. My 2 nephews & neice are getting quilts for Christmas, & I was wondering about wrapping them. I think we will just make pillowcases instead & embroider their names on them. Thank you.
Hope

Becky said...

Wow! Thrilled at the responses! They're all so easy to make, and help saves trees (and supports our hobby ;-) )!

Susan said...

Great post! I am absolutely going to use this idea. My mind just jumped to using oilcloth for baked goods - have you tried that?

Becky said...

Nope! I don't even know where I'd get oilcloth around here. But good idea!

Quiltstory said...

good idea...thanks for linking up!