Pillowcases as re-useable gift wrap

[user64325]

I want to start collecting re-useable gift wrap, to help reduce waste, (particularly the post christmas waste that won't fit in the recycling bin) make wrapping easier, and it will be another familiar item to get out with the decorations each year which would be nice.

Problem is I don't sew. Rather than buy them off Etsy, I was thinking of just using pillowcases, and tying with ribbon, maybe using a bobble or elastic underneath, and square scarfs I can tie in knots for smaller gifts. Has anyone done this before? I might have a go at making drawstring bags but I really would prefer a no-sew method.

I've started collecting pillowcases from charity shops, anything in reds, jewel colours, stripes or satin or with sequin bands. I'm wondering if I could just buy fabric by the metre and use pinking shears rather than hem?

This sounds brilliant.

Will you ask the recipient for the fabric back?

I was thinking mostly for all the gifts with immediate family at home this year and using the old paper gift wrap and Kraft paper I already have for anyone else, but eventually I'd only use paper with people it would be awkward to ask for it back like colleagues/kids friends.

I think it is a nice idea but unless you use the same ones for many many years it is unlikely to be more environmentally friendly. (charity shop pillowcases may be)

Maybe use pinking shears to cut squares/rectangles out of the pillowcases? I think just using the old pillow case would look exactly like an old pillowcase, which some people might me a bit about.

I'm not keen to be honest. What is the recipient going do with an odd pillowcase? Most people will already have sets of their own. I'd prefer a nice reusable bag (shopping type bag rather than a gift bag). More practical and likely to be reused.

There are some linked to from the Range and Rex London on the Christmas bargain thread.

I bought Christmas sheets and pillowcases in the January sales a few years ago to make reusable wrapping. I use the pillowcases as you suggest and cut the sheets into large squares then hemmed them. (I like to sew but you could use pinking shears)
There are tutorials for fabric wrapping on line if you try some sheets

I should add, I only do this for my own household, kids have penguins, adults have stars.

It would be for is to use at home and of course we would use them for many years, that is the whole idea. The recipients will mostly be my husband and children for is to use time and time again.

If it’s for immediate family I don’t see why not, but with the caveat that you’d like them to use them to wrap immediate family gifts that they give next year.
We did this with gift boxes for years, the same ones went round and round the family till they were dog eared and falling apart

We do this!

Several years ago, I set the DC loose with some fabric pens and old pillowcases, and they decorated some pillowcases for Christmas wrapping. They now come out every year.

I have also bought charity shop pillow cases which we have decorated to lesser effect for birthday presents.

Pillowcases make wrapping very easy, They have ribbon ties sewn on.

We only use them for people in the household and immediate family though, so we can get them back and reuse.

@JudgeRindersMinder

If it’s for immediate family I don’t see why not, but with the caveat that you’d like them to use them to wrap immediate family gifts that they give next year. We did this with gift boxes for years, the same ones went round and round the family till they were dog eared and falling apart

My family does this with gift bags. It’s quite nice to see some of the old ones coming back around

We do this with gift bags too. (I just bought a few for 10p each in the local charity shop).

Its a great idea, I'm tempted to keep an eye out in charity shops too. A couple of years ago a local one was selling off a pile of scarves for 50p each - I got a whole pile of wintery prints/stars/silver/red, there were even some Laura Ashley ones which would have been fine as gifts in themselves. Anyway they are sooo easy to wrap gifts in, look amazing under the tree, and we can use them forever. What's not to like!

I think that’s quite inspired - you could cut off the top part with a pinking scissors, so it doesn’t have that flap part and just tie on a ribbon. It won’t look like a pillowcase at all.

Before buying fabric check your local charity shops. Some won’t sell duvets and sheets that have rips or stains but if you let them know that you’re looking for a particular colour they might have it in the rag pile. It’s worth asking.

This has reminded me of the time our team at work bought gifts for a colleague who was getting married. I had been charged with the collection, buying, wrapping etc and brought everything into work and hid under my desk.

I was in a side meeting room working on some plans when a colleague asked where the gifts were as they were about to surprise the bride to be, so I told her they were under my desk, in a linen bag and I'd be out in a minute.

I joined the presentation just in time to see colleague handing over the bag of gifts to the bride and the first thing she said "oh wow! I LOVE this bag! It's gorgeous!"

Yes, it was MY gorgeous bag. Which I had just used to transport the gifts to work in. I had no intention of gifting the bag!

I did actually chew on it for an hour and then went over to the bride and apologised for the confusion, and asked for my linen tote bag back 😂

Sounds boring to open, why not plain paper and then the children can use it to draw on/for crafts after?

@Booknooks

Sounds boring to open, why not plain paper and then the children can use it to draw on/for crafts after?

Your kids must open their presents in a more restrained way than mine! There'd be nothing left to draw on here

Our family just reuse the same gift bags. They are only thick paper but they has been given to and fro for about 7 years.

That sounds like an amazing idea and I’m definitely going to do that- thanks!

I think just white pillowcases would be boring but if I get the colours right with some big ribbon I don't think it would be boring at all. Ginghams and satins and stars and stripes. It would be like how stockings are exciting to open, more exciting than a gift bag as you can feel all the lumps and bumps and untie the ribbon.

@Saisong I love the pictures of knotted scarfs to wrap gifts too, I'm keeping my eyes out for them, but don't want to buy new if I can help it. I've thought about sari silk scraps which are often easy to find cheap.

I've attached a picture to show what I'm picturing for those to hopefully inspire those who think it is boring, but I'm thinking more silk and satin and different textures than just cotton.

Thanks for the ideas!

I do this with our actual pillowcases. Just for in-house presents! Also (less ethically) the present bags that come with Amazon presents - one relative insists on buying from there so I have a small collection.

I just use Christmassy fabric tied with ribbon so no sellotape. Then I ask the recipients to give it back to me for next year! I've also covered a few little papier mache boxes with fabric (using a glue gun) that I can use again and again.

OP Google Furoshiki, this is essentially what you are describing. There are bound to be tutorials on YouTube on how to do it so gifts look lovely.

I have started making gift bags from material too and now have a small collection used for immediate family. It is SO much easier to wrap gifts, and the gifts actually look quite luxurious wrapped in fabric with a nice ribbon.

We had pillow cases back in the early 70s