“Green” holiday wrapping

Earlier this month the Sew, Mama, Sew blog featured a great idea for the holidays – wrap your gifts in reusable, cloth grocery bags!

While I haven’t done this, or used regular cloth gift bags, I have been wrapping my presents in fabric for about ten years.  I just wrap the gift as if I was wrapping it in paper – including taping the edges.  The tape doesn’t stick to fabric really well so I also use curling ribbon to help keep it all together. 

This method only works if you aren’t too concerned about beautifully presented gifts!  My family knows they are welcome to keep the fabric if they would like to use it.  However, none of them sew so they usually just give it back to me and I use it again the next year. Since I purchased most of the fabric I use in the after holiday sales for $2 per yard or less, I have saved a lot on wrapping paper over the years.

I have some elegant fabric for the adults, some more playful fabric for the children and some fabric with cookie cutters and rolling pins (top left) on that I like to use for kitchen gifts.

Does your family incorporate any “green” ideas into your holidays?  I’d love to hear how!

3 Comments
  • Laurie
    Posted at 11:19h, 06 December Reply

    I have been wrapping Christmas gifts in fabric for at least 16 years. I started the year we had some big really wasteful to wrap in paper gifts. I basted, by machine, some big bags, (so I could use the fabric for quilting if I want- I even store them on my fabric shelves). Since then I have made many bags. When I got my quilting machine I practiced on some red plaid Christmas fabric, then made bags out of that.
    Sometimes I put a channel in to close it with a ribbon but usually I use a rubber band, it doesn't slip, or a pipe-cleaner and then cover that with a ribbon. I have them pictured here; http://stone-belle.blogspot.com/search?q=gift+bags

  • PioneerValleyGirl
    Posted at 01:01h, 23 November Reply

    That bag full of torn off paper makes my green soul cringe on Christmas morning – so I've been trying to find a good green solution. I've wrapped in fabric like that – not as easy crisply creasing paper, but green. I've also made simple fabric bags – pretty, green, but this year I have to remember to make the time to do it enough in advance

  • Lynn
    Posted at 00:48h, 21 November Reply

    Years ago I cleaned out my fabric cabinet and made gift bags of all sizes. We have been using and reusing them time after time. I made some all occasion bags and some Christmas bags. The large bags are really great for wrapping large, odd shaped gifts.

    Last week my sister sent my birthday gift wrapped in fabric like you do. I thought it was very clever. I have added that fabric to my stash!

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