How to Wrap with Fabric

Using fabric gift-wrap instead of paper is super unique and it’s eco-friendly! Mastering the basic technique is easy and you can wrap all kinds of small to medium sized presents! This simple alternative to traditional wrapping is so pretty and can be recycled and used over and over again!

OTHER: How to Make a Simple Rope Plant Hanger

I’ve always been a sucker for pretty packages. I love wrapping presents, and finding creative and cute ways to decorate them. I saw a picture of some gifts wrapped in fabric instead of paper, and was in awe of how simple and beautiful they looked!

Fabric gift-wrap can be customized in so many ways! There are a ton of textures and colours not to mention all the ways you can decorate them! Grab some feathers, yarn or some artificial flowers to add that extra special touch!

This technique began in Japan. The idea is for the receiver to keep and re-use the fabric when gifting to someone new! Giving gifts this way is really unique and adds such a personal touch!

Check out my video on How to Wrap with Fabric:

NOTE: Scroll Down for the Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial with suggested Measurements

Supplies you’ll need:

Here’s a list of affiliate links that will take you to products on amazon that are similar to the supplies I used to make these.

Gift Box (small or medium)
Fabric
Fabric Scissors
Black Gift Tags
Letter Stickers
Label Maker
Decorative Items (optional)

THE BASIC TECHNIQUE:

For this to work well, you need a square piece of fabric (or as close to a square as you can get it.) It’s surprisingly hard to cut fabric into a clean square shape! Don’t rely on your basic kitchen scissors for this one. Fabric scissors are definitely the way to go and will save you so much time. Don’t worry too much if your “square” is a little uneven. It will still work in the end even if a few sides don’t completely match up:)

Typical measurements would be 17×17 inches or 28×28 inches, but any sized square should work as long as you measure it against the box you’re wrapping so you have enough fabric.

For reference – the box I wrapped for these photos was 3′ x 3′ x 2′ and I cut a square piece of fabric that measured 15′ x 15′.

Rotate the square so it’s in the shape of a diamond.

Place your box in the centre of the diamond so the sides are perpendicular to the points on each side.

Take the bottom point and fold it UP and OVER the top of the box. Tuck the point under the box so the fabric is snug and secure.

Next, take the top point and fold it half way down so the point faces the box and the top is a straight line.

Grab that top edge and fold it down so it sits on top of the box. There should be a fold/seam on top of the box.

Fold the sides of the fabric inward on the left side of the box (the same way you would with paper wrapping.)

Press the edges down and grab the fabric “tail” and pull it up over the top of the box.

Repeat this step on the right side. Then pull the right “tail” up and over the box to meet the left one.

Tie the two tails together and pull tight.

If your tails are still a bit too long, tie them one more time!

Great job! Your gift is wrapped!

Your local fabric store should have a ton of beautiful options for wrapping! A half metre of each should be enough to wrap a few small or a couple medium sized boxes!

If you’re wrapping multiple gifts, try to get a mix of prints and solids in coordinating colours or try mixing warm and cool tones for maximum visual impact! I spent over an hour at the fabric store and had so much fun picking them out!

ADDING DECORATION:

Once your gifts are wrapped, you can leave them plain OR you can take it to the next level and add some extra detail! You’d be surprised at how far a few feathers, and some fake flowers/leaves can take you!

Artificial flowers can be pricey but I found all of these in the clearance section at my local craft store. Try to find bouquets so you have a variety of blooms and leaves to choose from.

Add a custom gift tag as the finishing touch! Use a classic label maker to write a small message or some puffy letter stickers for a more bold and graphic look. I can’t decide which I like better…

There are so many colours, patterns and different ways to decorate each gift! You can easily customize each one for the recipient!

Fabric gift-wrap is just as beautiful as wrapping paper. Who wouldn’t want to be surprised with one of these?

What types of fabric work best?

I found that fabrics with little to no stretch made it much easier to make neater folds. Also, the fabric should be able to hold the weight of the item you’re wrapping. If you’re using a printed fabric, make sure the print is reversible and shows up on both sides. This way, you can fold it any which way and not have to worry about the non-printed side showing.

Do I need a box to wrap with fabric?

Not at all! While this particular method works best with a square or rectangular box, there are several different wrapping techniques for all kinds of items, from wine bottles to food. It’s actually easier to wrap with fabric! In most cases you won’t have to worry about it ripping or having to hold it together in oddly shaped places with tape. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different fabrics and techniques to see what works best.

After learning how to wrap with fabric it’ll be hard to go back to paper!