Unusual Gift Wrap
As my one time assistants are moving on to pastures new, I could not resist sending them away with a Zuckertüte, a cone shaped gift container design based on the German Schultüte or Zuckertüte, which is given to children as they start school, traditionally filled with sweets and stationery – supposedly to sweeten life a little as things are becoming “very serious” once you start school. Today, this tradition is extended to older children who start an apprenticeship or university. Well, really it was my mum’s idea to do this, and whilst traditionally they are made of card, naturally in this house they have to be made of fabric!

Starting school in Germany is quite a big thing with big parties (any excuse!). Not much partying at the moment (and for our house this is quite unusual), but I was glad that my mum (who we hadn’t seen for nearly 2 years) could be here for one of the boys’ 18th birthday and to see them off onto their next Lebensabschnitt (can’t think of the English so just borrowing a word here).
I rather like the cone shaped design as a reusable gift bag so have put it in the shop here. At the moment the choice of fabric for the body is a little limited (denim, turquoise, purple or cream), but I’m thinking of getting some more heavy canvas. I made one for my nephew as well but sending anything to Europe is a nightmare at the moment (b….y Brexit!) so if anyone can use it here it is:

I’m going to leave you with a photo of me and my Zuckertüte, that would have been back in 1978! 🤔 That’s kind of giving my age away here. Big birthday coming up for me next year, I do hope I can celebrate big time. Kathi

Love this Kathi!
What a huge zuckertute you received! Very interesting to hear about these. I am embarking on re-useable fabric bags as gift-wraps this year – different sizes, but just rectangles basically. Maybe I will try a cone-shaped one. Recycled fabrics being used, of course!
Glad to hear you are using recycled fabrics. I try to when I can, and you will find recycled fabrics in some of the things I sell, but I find it takes so much longer to design something out of recycled fabrics.
I started using fabric or even unfinished quilt tops as wrapping “paper” (or simple drawstring bags) a few years ago, sold quite a few last Christmas and going into gift bag overdrive at the moment, mainly because I have a new overlocker and can’t seem to stop using it, it is very addictive!