Fabric Wrapped Gift Boxes

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Scissors
• Needle and thread
• Pompom or decorative trim
• Muslin or jersey fabric
• Gift boxes

DIRECTIONS:

1. This wrapping technique can be used on round, square, or rectangle boxes.
2. For lidded boxes, simply add the asterisked step marked below.
3. Start with a square piece of fabric, approximately four times the surface area of the box base (Ex: a box with a 4"x 4" base will need a piece of fabric approximately 16"x 16").
4. Lay fabric on flat surface.
5. Place box just below and to the left of the center of fabric.
6. *For lidded boxes: place lid top down in bottom corner of fabric.
7. For non-lidded boxes: Wrap bottom left corner over top of box, so corner covers top of box. Fold top right corner of fabric, so point just touches base of box. Bring folded edge over top of box, pulling gently, but firmly.
8. Fold edge under more time, so that new fold sits just over the center of box top. Gather fabric tails near base of box.
9. Push in sides as if wrapping with paper. Fold in sides of tails. Gather base of tail firmly while pulling tail to top of box. Repeat on opposite side.
10. Tie tails together firmly on top of box.
11. For wrap with trim: Twist tails so wrong side of fabric faces up. Do not place final knot in wrap.
12. Attach trim along edges of tails with straight pins.
13. Use needle and thread to sew trim onto visible edges of tails.
14. Tie final knot with trimmed tails. Twist tails and adjust center knot as necessary.
15. For knot without tails: Once tails are initially tied, take longer tail and twist, so wrong side of fabric faces up. Wrap tail up and over center knot and tuck end under and through bottom of knot.
16. Twist opposite tail, so wrong side of fabric faces up. Flip over center knot.
17. Both tails should now be on the same side. Tuck top and bottom tails under center fold of fabric.
18. Adjust, tuck, and widen center knot as necessary.
19. Tuck side seams as necessary for clean look.

JOANN HACKS:

• Practice makes perfect: Jersey knits with stretch allow for tight knots, but are bulkier to wrap with. Muslin allows for cleaner creases and less wrinkles in wrapping.