Patterns are ideal gifts for embroiderers, but PDFs aren’t the most obviously giftable items. They can be, though.
Here are four ways to wrap printed PDF patterns to make a thoughtful gift for embroidery friends and family members a good-looking one, too. You'll have to forward this post to potential gift givers if you're the embroiderer, or just enjoy making the embroidered gift tags.
1. Get creative with a simple white envelope
Print your PDF pattern purchase and seal it in a white envelope. Then get creative with cord, braid, string, lace, washi tape… whatever you have to hand. I dug into my haberdashery box, but anything that can be tied around the envelope, stuck to it or used to draw on it can be used as decoration. Add a tag to the string before you knot it or stick one to the front of the envelope.
2. Roll up a pattern as a stocking filler
Cut a strip of paper – plain, patterned or to match your wrapping paper. Print your PDF pattern and roll it up fairly tightly so you have a long, thin tube that'll slide easily into a Christmas stocking. Wrap the strip of paper around the rolled up pattern and secure it with a piece of cellotape to help the tube keep its shape. Cut a rectangle of wrapping paper and wrap it around the rolled up pattern; push the excess at either end inside the pattern tube and tie a piece of cord, thread, braid or whatever you’ve chosen around the tube to hold it closed. Thread a tag on to the string before you knot it.
3. Add threads and wrap as a Christmas cracker
Roll your printed PDF pattern up and use a strip of paper and a piece of cellotape to hold it in place; it should be about the same circumference as a Christmas cracker. Place skeins of embroidery thread (check the pattern for which colours are required) inside the rolled up pattern. Cut a rectangle of wrapping paper and roll the pattern up inside it. Then scrunch the ends closed and tie with braid so the gift resembles a cracker. Either thread a tag on to the braid at one end before tying it or attach one to the centre of the "cracker".
4. Create a kit with fabric, threads, needles and a hoop
Look for a flat box – preferably one big enough that you only have to fold the pattern once, if at all. Place the printed PDF pattern in the bottom of the box and add a piece of fabric, skeins of thread, needles and an embroidery hoop. Check the pattern requirements for the type and size of fabric, thread colours and needle requirements. A four or five-inch embroidery hoop is a good option. The nice thing about making a kit out of a PDF pattern is that the recipient can start on the project right away.
The gift tags are available to download as a printable in four different colourways – green, red, yellow and B&W – with the option to add the embroidery or leave the tags plain. The download includes instructions for the embroidery.
