If you sew you probably have a fabric stash and what a better way to make use of it than to sew reusable gift wrapping. Single use wrapping paper is often not recycleable and tons of it ends up in landfills annually.

1. Furoshiki

One of the easiest ways to wrap a gift in fabric is by simply wrapping it in a square of fabric, like a tea towl or a second hand silk scarf. But using a piece of fabric with a fun print from your stash is another great option. Just finish the edge with a double fold hem and miter the corners for an elegant finish.

For the wrapping itself I suggest looking into furoshiki, the Japanese art of wrapping with cloth. Or look into bojagi, the Korean art of wrapping with cloth.

 There are more tips in this blogpost: How to sew a reusable giftwrap - Furoshiki Wrapping Cloth

or dive right into the sewing with the video tutorial:

2. Drawstring Gift Bags 

these are a little more work, but they are a great scrap sewing project or stash buster. You can often sew multiple in an hour especially if you batch steps and set up an efficient workspace.

here are three tutorials for drawstring bags that can be sewn with just a sewing machine, no serger needed. 

Unlined drawstringbag with french seams

3. Mini tote bags

4. Tsuno Tie Bag

Easy to customize and ideal for batch-making, them for a wedding party favor. No pattern needed! Just a simple and quick sewing project. You'll only need a sewing machine for this project, no serger needed sinde the seams are finished with a French seam.

This unlined drawstringbag bag is very fast to sew, it takes me about 10 minutes to make. No serger needed ass the seams are finished with a French seam.

Use a fun quilting cotton, and you have the perfect reusable gift bag. Check out the tutorial on Youtube.

You only need two pieces of fabric to create this cute colour block drawstring bag. In fact, you only need two fat quarters. A perfect fabric stash buster project.

Because of the way it's constructed it lines itself and it's SO fun to see how it comes together. It's not difficult, but there is a lot of pressing prep involved. It's a beginner friendly sewing project that doesn't need a serger.

I've had some of these scraps for years, but when my partner said he needed an extra blanket for winter...I said "I'll make you a quilt" and then I came up with an ASTRONOMICAL quilt design ;)

The final episode in the series about making my first quilt to process grief.

I started my first quilt to deal with grief, thinking it would give me something positive and challenging to focus on. I decided to make a baby quilt for a friend who was moving to another country, and as the stack of blocks grew, I started to feel better, but it also made me nervous I would mess up my blocks… My perfectionism took over the project stalled... but their moving date kept getting closer and I had to get going again.

When I'm in the midst of a craft project, I'm eager to progress, but once I'm nearing the finish line, I always feel homesick for the start of the project. But to finish my first quilt was amazing and I'm sure there will be many more quilt projects in my future.

Watch the series on YouTube

This is the third video in my video series about processing grief through quilting and making my first quilt.

I started my first quilt to deal with grief, thinking it would give me something positive and challenging to focus on. I decided to make a baby quilt for a friend who was moving to another country, and as the stack of blocks grew I started to feel better, but it also made me nervous I would mess up my blocks… My perfectionism took over the project stalled... but their moving date kept getting closer and I had to get going again.

Watch the series on YouTube

This is the second video in my video series about processing grief through quilting and making my first quilt. I'm finally getting in the swing of it and it's wonderful to find solace in the moments behind the sewing machine. Block by block piecing myself and the quilt together. 
Watch the series on YouTube

When my grandmother passed away quilting became a way for me to process my emotions and turn grief into a gift.

This first video of the series is all about the fabric, the saw tooth block and me making mistakes.

Sewing with double gauze can be challenging , but I recently made 25 double gauze napkins with mitered corners and I've made a video tutorial sharing tips and best practices working with this soft fabric.

Tips for Sewing with Double Gauze and Creating Mitered Corners

Double gauze is a wonderfully soft fabric, but its loosely woven nature requires some adjustments. Here are some tips to help you create beautiful mitered corners with double gauze:

Preparation

• Pre-wash Fabric: Double gauze tends to shrink, so pre-wash your fabric to avoid size issues later.
• Check Your Sewing Needle: Ensure your needle is sharp. Run it over your nail—if it snags, replace it. If you hear a thumping sound when sewingor see the tip missing, also replace it.  
• Prepare Extra Bobbins: If you are batch sewing like me, have extra bobbins ready to avoid interruptions.

Cutting

• Straighten the Edges: Press and straighten the fabric before cutting. Pull a thread to ensure you are working with a straight edge and you are working on grain.
• Mark Sections Before Cutting: Measure and mark all sections before cutting. This ensures accuracy and helps in checking measurements. If you miscalculated, you will come up short for the last napkin.
• Pull a Thread to Cut on Grain: After marking, pull a single thread at each interval to guide your cuts along the grain. Time consuming but worth it on double gauze and linen.

Pressing and Folding

• First Fold: Fold the raw edge by 1 cm (3/8") and lightly press. It's more important to keep the edge straight than to measure exactly 1 cm (3/8")
• Press Without Stretching: Lift and press your iron instead of sliding it to avoid distorting the fabric.
• Use Stitches as Guides: If you can see them utilize the small stitches in the fabric to guide your folding and pressing. 

Mitered Corners (these points are best understood watching the video)

• Marking the Corner: Unfold the second fold, leave the first 1 cm fold intact, and mark 5 cm (2 inches) from the corner on each side. Connect these points through the intersection of the creases for a precise line.
• Aligning Edges: Ensure the edges are perfectly aligned before pinning. Pin 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) past the point for better accuracy.
• Sew with Care: Start sewing within a little bit away from the edge, then backstitch to secure. Use tension on thread tails to guide fabric through the machine without pulling.

Final Steps

• Trim and Turn: After sewing, trim the seam allowance to 0.5 cm (1/4 inch), press open the seam using your finger or nail, and turn the corners carefully.
• Final Press: Press the edges again to prepare for topstitching.
• Topstitching: Align the edge of the fabric with the presser foot gap, slow down near corners, and use the hand wheel for precision. Sew over the starting stitches to backstitch and secure the thread.

General Tips

• Take Your Time: Go slow to avoid mistakes, especially with delicate fabrics like double gauze.
• Adjust Techniques: Customize your methods to suit your skill level and preferences.
• Stay Organized: Batch sew and organize your steps to maintain efficiency and accuracy.

I hope that by following these tips, even a beginner can create beautifully sewn double gauze napkins with perfect mitered corners. Happy sewing!