Green Tip: Wrap With Fabric

This Mother's Day, ditch the wrapping paper and embrace the traditional Japanese art of furoshiki (fabric) wrapping. It's an eco-friendly way to dress up a package, and the fabric doubles as an extra gift. Use a tablecloth, pillow case, or napkin, and try out these furoshiki wrapping techniques to make your mom proud.

--DW

Comments

[Patty]

It is not as pretty as all these wrapping techniques, but I wrap presents in wallpaper samples that I have gotten before various home inprovement projects. I just throw them away!

[Randy]

My mother hates furoshiki.

[Jim Vinson]

I like the idea of using recycled brown paper. I received a very nice looking package wrapped thus with a colored straw bow, etc.

[Barry]

This is exactly why I subscribe to the green life. I never give two thoughts about the environmental implications of wrapping paper. My daughter's birthday is next month. I need to buy her new sheets for her new bed (she grew out of her second hand toddler bed and is moving into a second had day bed), so I will just wrap her present in her new sheets! Great idea!!!

[Elaine]

Why don't they let you print this? I don't have a perfect memory, and I'd like to use this technique for future gifts.

[reason17]

Yay, Sierra Club! Thanks for the great tip that doesn't involve buying something. Actually, I buy colorful (often loud!) used scarfs at thrift shops just for this purpose, knowing the gift recipient can reuse them for wrapping other presents. Men's ties can also make great bows for larger presents.

[Pamela]

I love the scarf and wallpaper ideas! I use T-shirts with a coveted logo--my grandsons greatly anticipate which one is for them--ususally I give the correct one to the correct child. It's a matter of thinking out of the wrapping paper so to speak. Gift boxes are great to recycle--my 21-year-old just threw away a box that she remembers getting gifts in as a little child. Makes you wonder about my house doesn't it--I have a closet with the shelves organized to store these items--if the closet is full--no need for anything else!

[Jane]

Thanks for the great tip; I love the furoshiki gift wrap idea. We have used sheets to wrap big presents for years. My family recycles gift bags--over and over again. The trick is to buy bags that are just solid colors so that they will work for any occasion or holiday.

[Joanne Drabek]

My mother made fabric gift bags from remnants--patterns frequently matched interest of receiver or holiday. We have used these bags for YEARS.

I frequently use cotton bandanas--another double gift.

[Edith Montgomery]

I wanted to print the instructions but couldn't. I am a sewer and I like the idea of wrapping gifts with fabric.

[GrammaKK]

I use bags made out of legs from old blue jeans. Just stich up one open end, put the present inside, cather the open end and tie with ribbon (real ribbon). Everything can be reused (if you can get it back) People love them and want to keep them so the package goes on and on)

[Alwyn]

Furoshiki, it might be worth pointing out, are retained by the gift giver in Japan, and used over and over, They are not part of the gift.

[Sara B., Norfolk]

Ha...it is interesting that you can't print this or even copy and paste! But, let's think GREEN! Save the webpage on your computer and refer to it as needed. There is no need to print it on paper (even if it is 100%-post-consumer-materials-blank-side-of-already-used-scrap-paper)!

[Grandma Susan]

I've been using cloth diapers with diaper pins to wrap baby gifts snd dish towels to wrap shower and wedding gifts. We always wrap birthday gifts in the Sunday Comics, they are colorful and are often read.

[Grandma Susan]

I've been using cloth diapers with diaper pins to wrap baby gifts snd dish towels to wrap shower and wedding gifts. We always wrap birthday gifts in the Sunday Comics, they are colorful and are often read.

[Grandma Susan]

I've been using cloth diapers with diaper pins to wrap baby gifts snd dish towels to wrap shower and wedding gifts. We always wrap birthday gifts in the Sunday Comics, they are colorful and are often read.

[Michele]

Wow--I like the idea of wrapping smaller gifts with bandanas! People, especially younger people, can use these as handkerchiefs instead of kleenex, and save trees!

[econouvelle]

Go to your printer options and make sure you click the option to print background colors and images. I was able to print out the folding instructions by doing so. Another benefit of wrapping this way: you don't need a bow!

[GreenGirl]

I think these are all great ideas. I hope Randy finds a suggestion here that his mother will find acceptable. furoshiki probably doesn't want you to print their techniques. They want you to buy their clothes and will enclose the techniques with them, is just my guess. Another thing that is kind of fun to use, that you might have anyway, is the Sunday comics, or pictures from magazines (this one for small items), bubble wrap with a cute decoration is great for kids of all ages...who doesn't like to pop the bubbles. (Just hope they like the gift as much as the bubble wrap :) )