It's super simple - just use your sewing machine to zig zag along a length of twine or yarn. I use a wide and long zig zag stitch and pull the string from the back as I stitch.
Experiment with colors of thread and string and length of stitch. One of my favorites from last December was grey wool yarn with white thread on the bobbin and red thread through the needle. The possibilities are endless.
I love to wrap gifts almost as much as I like to make gifts. This package is one of my favorites - I made a bread/reusable produce bag out of a tea towel (Ikea - 49 cents!) with a homemade drawstring. I attached a little hand crocheted strawberry (I'll publish the pattern after the first of the year) as a hint to the content of the package (can anyone guess what's inside?).
Here's another fun and easy gift wrap - make a large envelope out of brown craft paper or a brown grocery bag using a large zig zag stitch on the sewing machine. Punch two holes up top and tie the envelope shut with custom twine (white thread on red crochet thread).
Happy wrapping! I've got some more twine to make and strawberries to crochet.
I love your homemade twine! You're giving me so many ideas for next Christmas--and I have a pretty good idea of what's in the bag!
ReplyDeleteHave a Berry (oh, Merry) Christmas!
Ooooh Molly, how brilliant is that idea ?!! It looks superb, and as you pointed out, the possibilities are endless !
ReplyDeleteUm, as you already told me what is inside, I'll let the other readers try to guess :P
Sending you much love oxoxo
molly, this is all just so good. the ideas, the photos, and the sentiment: you just can't help but make someone feel special giving a gift wrapped like this. (i'm speaking from experience, here, as you know :-))
ReplyDeletexo,
tara
molly, your resourcefulness and innovativeness are inspiring. i love seeing what you come up with!
ReplyDeletevery lovely wrapping ideas...I love the simplicity of them, especially that tea towel bag!
ReplyDeletei zigzagged on a brown paper bag yesterday too!
ReplyDeleteI know it's probably really simple but can you post a tutorial on turning the towel into a bag? I'm wanting some reusable produce or bulk bags and don't want to spend big dollars on them.
ReplyDeleteWonderful.. idea.. thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteHow adorable! I would also like to see how to make the tea towel bags. What did you put in them? I'm guessing shortcake mix??
ReplyDeletethat is very cool! such a great effect. thank you.
ReplyDeleteI am going to snag that tea-towel idea. And if it didn't say "mom and dad," I'd know EXACTLY what was in it! he he. yours should arrive in a day or two! Hopefully before Friday!
ReplyDeleteI love your super cute ideas! Now I'm off to check out your recipes. They sound so delish!
ReplyDeleteyour homemade twine is absolutely FABULOUS!
ReplyDeleteso is your wrapping. so personal. so special.
Strawberry jam? And thanks for the ideas! I can't quite imagine putting yarn thru the sewing machine, but I am going to give it a try. I am planning to make tea towel bags, too, and the twine looks so pretty.
ReplyDeleteWith wrapping as beautiful as that - who needs anything inside?! Really lovely, thanks for showing us :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful gift! I used the same tea towels to sew up bread bags. I cut the side seams and used those for the drawstring. I am giving them with a loaf of bread and an assortment of jams from this summer's canning.
ReplyDeleteYour twine and crocheted strawberry are such a sweet touch to this gift. I just showed my husband and pointed out that ours will not look nearly as pretty!
I am loving all the inspiration you are spreading in these last few days before Christmas. What a treat it is to visit and see your beautiful pictures.
:)
jen
Oh my! You are such a clever gal!! Love this idea!!
ReplyDeleteHoly cow, what are you doing to me? And I thought I had Christmas done!
ReplyDelete~~Camie~~
With all this crafting it's very nice of you to post these tutorials - very kind. I would never imagined that I could do this with a sewing machine. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWell, aren't you clever! I've never even heard of baker's twine.
ReplyDeleteThis looks lovely! I think wrapping is as much a part of a gift as what's inside. I love to make envelopes for letters and little packages too. Vintage National Geographic pages are my favorite!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh! I always wondered if I could do that on my machine. (watch me run to try my hand at it...zig zags here I come!)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!! I just love this idea. I never would have thought of it on my own.
ReplyDeleteAnjeanette
I can't wait for the berry pattern!
ReplyDeleteOh these are so lovely. I have a bunch of those cheapy IKEA towels too. Adorable.
ReplyDeleteSuper, super cute. I came via The Grocery Shrink Blog to check out the bakers' twine and stayed for the rest of your gift wrap ideas! Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI write a blog about gift wrapping (www.thegiftedblog.com) and just love to find other people who love it, too. Thank you for sharing!
I love this idea, I am so cheap and trying not to spend this year but love the look of bakers twine for wrapping presents. I am going to try this!
ReplyDeleteWow, I like this better than the 'real' bakers twine!
ReplyDeleteLove this! I linked it up on my bloggy blog!
ReplyDeletewhat gorgeous packaging
ReplyDeleteGreat idea - so resourceful. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete