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Rethinking the Wrapping

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With the holiday season just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to start thinking about ways to give a gift sustainably.  Zero Waste Canada, a Vancouver based advocacy group, estimates Canadians use 6 million rolls of tape and generate 545,000 tonnes of waste from Christmas bags and wrapping every year (with those numbers only increasing!). They also found household waste can increase more than 25% during the holiday season. All this additional waste material (recyclable or not) will ultimately end up putting more stress on the waste management systems, increase the likelihood and the volume of plastic material that enter the natural ecosystems, and in reality, cause more harm than the minute of joy it might bring while unwrapping. 

 

This DIY aims to help reduce the growing amount of waste that is produced every year! And the best part is, it’s not only perfect for the holiday season, but for any gift giving occasion! 

 

This is a perfect project for beginner sewers! 

No experience is necessary, only a little but of patience.

 

Let’s begin!

SUPPLIES

What you will need:

 

  • Sewing machine 

  • Rectangular piece of fabric 

  • Scissors 

  • Ribbon 

  • Pins

  • Iron 

optional

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ie 2o cm x 4o cm

INSTRUCTIONS

Watch our how to video and following along with our step by step instructions!

Step 1: Prepare your materials 

  • Cut out a rectangular piece of fabric (length is 2 times longer than the width)

  • Press smooth with iron 

  • Zig zag stitch along the raw edges of fabric to stop future fraying 

  • Cut a piece of ribbon double the width of your bag.

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(optional)

( you are going to be sewing the

ribbon into the seam)

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Step 2: Sew body of your bag

  • Fold your rectangle in half, right sides together. Orient your bag so the fold in your fabric is at the bottom. Pin together side seams. 

  • Fold ribbon in half and place ribbon â…“ way down from top of bag, so its fold is in line with the right side seam.

  • Straight stitch down both pinned sides of the bag, making sure to catch the ribbon in the right side seam. 

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Step 3: Sew opening of Bag

  • Roll down the top edge of the bag, ½ an inch. Roll again another ½ inch. Press so your fold lies flat . Pin the fold down around the opening of the bag

  • Straight stitch top edge of bag ¼ inch from fold edge to secure fold in place. Turn your bag inside out.

  • Place your present inside, tie the bag. 

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TIPS AND TRICKS

  • Take a lighter to the ends of your ribbon to reduce the amount of fraying over time 

  • After side seams are sewed, place present on top of bag to determine the height of your ribbon placement

  • Add a bit of extra length to allow two ½ or larger folds to make the creation of the rim easier. 

  • The trickiest part of this DIY is sewing the opening so take your time 

FEEL GOODS

  • These bags will last for however long you need them. And the best part is, if you ever need to mend them, you’ll know how!

  • You’ll be able to wrap your gifts of all shapes and sizes, as these bags are totally customizable!

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