Yeah, we know. Christmas is darned near tomorrow and you still have gifts to buy or make. Cut yourself some slack when it comes to your stitchy friends, and give them what they crave–fabric! But don’t cop out and stick a few FQs in a recycled gift bag and call it good. Exercise some of that creativity we know is oozing from your every pore. With a few cheap supplies, or some clever folding tricks, you can make those FQs into a gift-wrapped vision that even the grande dame of tasteful glamour would applaud.
First, do a quick reccy of your craft closet. You may have saved a few tins or jars that “had future possibilities.” Well, the future is now, if they could be tarted up with some ribbon and shred, to hold a nice clutch of FQs for a friend.
Visit your local Target or dollar store. You’ll find tons of small containers—some gifts unto themselves—that are worthy for this use. Add a purchased Christmas ornament (they’re probably discounted 50 percent by now).
For your greener friends, fill little kraft-paper gift bags partly with shredded brown paper bags, and nestle in your gift cuts. Some raffia, a pinecone from the backyard and some recycled ribbon, and you’re good to gift!
A terra cotta pot and green shred (finally, another use for Easter grass) can help you turn a bouquet of fats into a pot of “flowers.”
With a little Styrofoam, twisty gift-wrap wire and a candy dish, turn your fats into sweets for the sewist. Just carve a candy-like shape, wrap them up inside a fat quarter, leaving some loose ends, tie them off and it’s Tula Taffy! Or Heather Drops!
Fold your FQs in clever shapes. Go here to learn how to fold fat quarters into triangles. Then stack three triangles to create a star. Wrap the stack in a little glitzy wire and you’ve got a glowing gift.
Just in case you need some more inspiration, try these sites for some other ideas. We love the star-folded fats a lot!
http://sweetlibertygrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/triangle-fat-quarter-folding.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Fat-Quarter-Christmas-Tree
There, now. Feel better? Martha would be proud.
COMMENT #1
Last time I bought a pack of FQs as a Christmas gift for my Mom, I just used them to wrap the rest of her presents and my Dad’s gifts (he’s smart – he knew the fabric was for Mom). Tied everything with real ribbon, and it looked real pretty under their tree.
COMMENT #2
Fun ideas. You can also roll FQ like sushi, put them in a tray with chop sticks.
COMMENT #3
How many FQ star bundles have you been sent today Jake?
My fave is the gorgeous candy dish!