Christine Leech - Zero Waste: Gift Wrap: 30 Ideas for Furoshiki and Other Sustainable Solutions

CHRISTINE LEECH

www.davidandcharles.com

Dedicated to all the Wombles out there: making good use of the things that we find...

When I was commissioned to write this book I wanted to see just how frugal I could be with materials. Id made a pact last year to stop buying new clothes and to try and use up my fabric stash before buying more, so this book was the perfect challenge for me. The projects here are the result of one trip to a charity shop and cutting up several pieces from my own wardrobe. I may not have any pyjama bottoms left but I do have all my gift wrapping needs sorted!

For many years I have gift wrapped presents using the fashion pages from magazines. I liked the way the glossy photos collage into abstract patterns when folded around odd shapes. I also liked that I was doing my bit towards helping the planet by recycling paper and not buying new giftwrap (though there was still sticky tape involved). Then about five Christmases ago I made my sisters family each a set of fabric gift bags. The process of making them was therapeutic. I used old fabrics from my stash and a shrunken jumper and I felt proud I had gone one step further towards a more sustainable lifestyle. These bags come out every year now and I love the challenge of finding gifts to fit inside the very specific sizes!

Fast forward to last Christmas. I was running some Tsutumu and Furoshiki workshops using vintage scarves I had bought from charity shops and kilo sales. Everyone loved the idea of not only giving the present but also an additional gift of a scarf in the wrapping.

So it was perfect timing when I was asked to create this book combining both Furoshiki and other sustainable gift wrapping solutions. The outcome is a mix of large and small projects from simple square wraps and repurposed ribbon rosettes, to gift bags from old shirts, and personalised gift tags.

I hope this book inspires you to go paperless when gift wrapping. I had a lot of fun making the projects and I hope you do too. My personal favourites are the Odd Sock Crackers and the Pyjama Party Bags, plus I now always carry a large silk scarf in my bag to turn into a nifty Katakake Fukuro (or carry wrap) to carry my fruit and veg home.

Happy crafting!

I have written this book to inspire and encourage people to think again when faced with a gift-wrapping emergency. Instead of reaching for the shiny, glitter-splashed wrapping paper, look to your wardrobe and fabric stash for wrapping inspiration. This book is divided into the following three sections:

The eleven projects showcase the Japanese art of Tsutsumu wrapping gifts using lightweight fabric squares called Furoshiki. There are ideas for wrapping everything from books to bottles, and also for how to create bags - perfect for those awkwardly shaped gifts. The knots work for presents large or small, so you can modify them to suit your needs. Ive used wraps from 30cm (12in) up to 75cm (2912in) square.

This section is all about upcycling and using what you already have to create packaging. There are a few projects for making Furoshiki-style wraps and lots of ideas for repurposing items of clothing. Again, the projects are suggestions to inspire you so you will have to adjust the measurements according to your requirements.

These are present toppers and little bits of pizzazz Ive made from fabric scraps left over from the Wrap section. If your fabric is too bulky to tie knots in, gather the corners, fasten them with a hair elastic or safety pin, and add one of these embellishments. Even if you are using paper gift wrap, dont buy plastic ribbon or glittery gift tags use the ideas in this section to create Fabric Twine, elasticated Scrap Bunting, and things to give your gifts that wow factor.

The basis of zero-waste crafting is the gathering of recyclable fabric and any other bits and pieces that you can reuse, plus a few simple tools to bring them together.

You may feel squeamish about cutting up perfectly good clothes from charity shops or your own wardrobe. Sadly the rise of fast fashion has meant that charity shops have become overwhelmed with donations, and this clothing often still ends up in landfill as supply outstrips demand. Any clothes repurposed and given a new lease of life in whatever form is always preferable to buying new.

If you are rummaging in the charity shop, think about how much useable fabric you can get from a garment. Pick the largest sizes so you will get the most fabric for your buck. Look out for patch pockets, and shirts with cuffs and plackets, because a stash of those will be invaluable for making small gift bags such as the Pocket Pockets and Shirt Cuff Purses in this book. Youll find you can work with parts of clothing even if it has a few holes, so raid your familys wardrobes and turn that beloved but moth-eaten jumper into a set of heirloom gift bags to be treasured for years to come.