Fabric re-cycling to create textile gift bags

I love fabric,  I think we have already established that,  or at least I hope I have.  It’s the reason  Thread Softly  began in the first place.   
Now because I love fabric and because I hate waste,  I collect a lot of fabric cut-offs.  If a piece is at least 50cm,  I find it impossible to throw it out (truth be told even smaller pieces find a home in my remnant stash).

I also have a penchant for buying beautiful remnants.  I buy them everywhere -  from interior design sales,  from curtain sample book  clearances  and always when I travel.    I constantly say I won’t buy anymore until I reduce my collection, but if I see a beautiful fabric remnant,  I cannot resist.
I have a lot..   too much ... and I’m doing my best for the planet (and my household) to try and re-use it.  

I never buy a paper gift bag - I will always make one – it is far more beautiful,  it won’t tear, it will last a lifetime and hopefully will give pleasure to lots of gift recipients.    Although,  I think often recipients don’t ‘gift it on’ but instead find a nice practical use for it, and sure that is great too.

The Japanese have always had a great culture of textile gift wrapping.   Furoshiki cloths are very popular to wrap gifts – particularly useful for unusually shaped gifts.  They have a special way of wrapping that results in the gift-wrap being a work of art in its own right.  
Bento bags are another great Japanese invention that can be made as a beautiful gift wrap.

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Sample Furoshiki fabric gift-wrap                            Sample Bento Bags (source noodle-head.com)

If we need any more convincing on why fabric gift wrapping is good - here’s one: every holiday season about 4 million tons of gift wrap and decorations end up in U.S. landfills. (I couldn’t find local statistics).  Wrapping paper and gift bags are not just hard on the environment, but they are very expensive too.  In my experience cheaper versions just come apart, at their stuck-together seams.

And so,  I have decided to make some textile gift bags for sale on the site.    As they will be made from my remnants,  they will be mostly be one-off pieces or sets.   They will be added slowly as it’s always slower to make individual items.

Gift Bags from Thread Softly (available on site)

Nautical themed bags made from fabric sample book

Sample of some initial bags made from Fabric Sample Books

When I get around to it,  I will publish the patterns I use so that you too might reduce your reliance on paper gift bags and boxes,  and make a simple bag or envelope.   They are easy to make so ideal for any beginner.    I tend to just decide what size gift bag I want (often determined by the fabric piece I have selected) and cut my pattern - which is typically just a rectangle.  Heavier fabrics need not be lined if seams are tidied (I overlock or French stitch mine).   Lighter fabrics are lovely with a contrasting lining.    If you are tempted there is any number of free patterns available on Pinterest.

I also re-cycle scraps and waste cut-off.   I save cut-offs for use as stuffing for various projects - tailors ham, sleeve sausage, small toys, large poof.    I have filled all of these so far.   Again, Pinterest is a fantastic resource for ideas.   With the nicer smaller pieces of quilting cotton – I colour code and save these for use in textile art pieces or for applique on bags.

So that’s my small effort at doing my bit for the circular economy ….. re-cycling fabrics to make great gift bags that are earth friendly and will bring joy to the recipients  …..   I recommend it !