Sustainable Christmas Day 7 - Gift Wrap

Vlogmas with a twist - looking at some sustainable ways to use sewing over the festive season. Looking at some alternatives gift wrap & a tutorial to make your own Gift bags
00:0 Intro
00:29 Not so fun festive facts
01:40 Alternatives to Gift wrap
06:24 Tutorial begins
08:12 Cutting
10:28 Sewing
Mentions ‪@theyorkshiresewgirl‬
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[@jennetthamilton7942]

One year I asked my neighbours if I could have their newspapers to wrap gifts. The reason I wanted their newspaper was because it was actually printed in Chinese and it used red as well as black ink for the printing and of course the printing was all in Chinese. It looked very festive and my neighbours were quite happy to help out with my recyclable wrapping paper.

[@Frugalisama]

Brilliant idea Jennett

[@kristymcmillan7481]

I’ve used brown paper that has been used as packaging in parcels I’ve received - ironed it first and then linoprinted festive shapes on it, using water based ink so it is biodegradable. When I was growing up in the 70s we used to re-use wrapping paper from gifts we had received in previous years (again , ironing it!), and cut gift tags from old Christmas cards.

[@Frugalisama]

Ah yes, I still do that if it's nice paper, nothing so satisfying as getting that selotape off without it spoiling the paper 🤣

[@jennifermaddock4382]

Years ago I bought some Christmas cotton on clearance and sewed simple gift bags for wrapping all our family's gifts. I have been reusing them forever. A set of bags makes a great gift for others too. BTW I bought a set of produce bags as gifts for family this year because of your inspiration.

[@Frugalisama]

Oh did you that's fab - hope they appreciate them. Think of all the money you've saved with those gift bags!

[@lindsaym8546]

Thanks Sam, this is really helpful. Great vlogmas concept, information and tips/ideas 😊

[@Frugalisama]

You're so welcome

[@elizabethsawyer5906]

More great ideas! Thank you💕

[@Frugalisama]

You are so welcome!

[@mairead5891]

I've made Mors bags as gift bags in the past and they've always been very well received. I've saved your video, so I'll be making box bottom produce bags as gift bags now, using the metres of muslin I bought in the sales and found was useless for making toiles! Thanks Sam! 😘

[@Frugalisama]

You're welcome Mairead - yes that boxed bottom technique can be applied to any bag I reckon you just need to remember to add a bit extra length 🤗

[@theyorkshiresewgirl]

Love this as always! We really enjoyed making our wrapping paper with a plain roll of brown paper. And it was cheap 🤪🤣

[@Frugalisama]

Thanks Ruan, that looked like so much fun, can't wait to do stuff like this with Alice when she gets a bit older 👍

[@emdoubleu1301]

Thanks for the tutorial:) really enjoying your take on vlogmas!

[@Frugalisama]

Glad you like it 🤗!

[@nataliestanchevski4628]

I have some old polyester (or maybr nylon?) window shears that I've earmarked for produce bags in the new year. They aren't biodegradable obviously, but I thought it would be better than throwing them away or buying new fabric. My grandmother and mother have collected so much stuff, it's a bit overwhelming to think what to do with it all honestly.

[@Frugalisama]

Absolutely , yes use it, as you say much better than throwing it away 👍

[@lynnshepard7485]

Really enjoy fabric gift bags. ☺️

[@Frugalisama]

So many uses for them too 👍

[@InAgatasCottage]

Lovely video as always. I love drawstring bags. I made a lot this year. Actually even made tutorial few weeks ago.

[@Frugalisama]

Thanks Agata 🤗

[@MadeByTriniLena]

Merry Christmas dear, always great to see you

[@Frugalisama]

Thank you, merry Christmas to you too 🤗

[@MadeByTriniLena]

Thxs so much

[@evasaker2476]

Thanks for sharing your ideas of alternative giftwrapping and the tutorial of fabric bags! I’m a bit concerned though that you use the term biodegradable about the fabric, that gives the impression that it is compostable. It is in a matter of speaking but it takes a very long time. In Sweden we are not allowed to throw fabric of any kind together with food waste, it gets burned to produce energy instead. Clothes and other textile things are recycled.

[@Frugalisama]

Good point Eva, biodegradable just means that it will degrade over time, rather than stay in the system for thousands of years. Every country (& in the UK every council) has different regulations about what can & can't go into the bins. We don't have food waste collection in my council area, (not sure anywhere in the UK does tbh) but we do have textile collection points for recycling & we can put them in our own compost. The point of these bags more than anything though is they get used rather than used once & sent to landfill 👍

[@evasaker2476]

@@Frugalisama Thanks for your kind reply! I hoped I didn’t come on to severe and I really agree on using reusable wrapping methods! Unfortunatly we don’t have a system for taking care of fabric waste yet, at least not from households, which makes me so frustrated as I sew a lot and always get a lot of small scraps. I keep as much as I can and use for projects, but I’m not in to making puffs and stuffed animals for the rest of the scraps. But hey ho, it produces energy when it burnes as well. Appart from that Sweden is very good at recycling and being sustainable I think. Looking forward to your next tip!

[@Frugalisama]

@@evasaker2476 No you didn't come across as severe at all, I'm happy for people to join in the conversation