Making furoshiki wraps v napkins v something else

[PileofLogs]

A few years ago I bought 4 metres of Tana Lawn fabric (see pic) to make a shirt but quickly realised it was a bit beyond my skills, so the fabric has been in the drawer ever since. It's red so I wondered whether I could use it for something Christmassy.

I love the idea of furoshiki wrapping but am not sure how to approach it- would I just need to hem a lot of squares of different sizes? I'm not great at anything that requires brilliant tying- my scarves always look a bit crap, for example. Also silly question but how do you attach a gift tag?

Alternatively I could do napkins. Or is there something better that I haven't thought of? I have a sewing machine but not much experience.

Thank you!

Tana lawn is wonderful stuff. Have you considered making reusable drawstring gift bags? I've made a set in lightweight cotton before and they are quick (I do seem to remember running them up on Christmas eve...) and more forgiving of error than flat cloths where the hemming is all on show, even though they look more complex. There are lots of tutorials online and you don't need to be too exact with measurements, so long as you have a reasonable idea of the kinds of things you will be wrapping: our set includes ones that are just right for books as well as smaller ones for little gadgetty stocking-fillers and slightly larger for the games and toys. They look very pretty and wrapping is a doddle.

I tried wrapping a few items in fabric a few months ago. It looks lovely if the wrap is the right size for the gift, but I found that my wraps were with too big or too small for the gifts I had.

I did buy a fabric bag which was tied with ribbon and it worked better.

It would be lovely. But will any of the gift recipients appreciate the fabric wrapping? It is a Japanese thing, and Japanese people are used to keeping the fabric they receive and then using it for someone else's present another time. In the UK you run the risk of folk chucking out the fabric with the rubbish.
Which would be a tragic waste of tana lawn!
Maybe a Christmas tablecloth would be good? 4 simple hems to sew.

Draw string bags are fab. And dead easy. Train your family to give them back to you after they have opens the gift and you can use it next year. Gosh, mine are about 30 years old now.

I have had to make them for dp’s and 2 x db’s and they all look so cheerful under the tree.

Thank you- drawstring bags are a great idea and I think within my abilities!

I made my first ones by hand as I didn’t have a machine. Cut to size, right sides together and sew with needle and thread from across from the fold, around the cornerAnd up. Stop well short of the top on your vertical seam.

Fold over the top to make a large hem and iron into place. Sew along the length leaving the two ends open.

Turn right side out, iron the seams neatly into place. Use a ribbon tied to a safety pin if you don’t have a bodkin and pull through. All done.

Beeswax food wraps?