HOW TO MAKE A FLAX BOW WRAP
(suitable for wrapping our book boxes or any gift)
 Step 1: Get yourself two strips of fresh flax – each around 100cm long (the
longer the better, as it will be easier to tie it around the box when done).
 Step 2: Hold the dull underside of one of the strips tightly against the
back of a kitchen knife with your thumb. Pull the strip between your
thumb and the knife to scrape (and soften) it. Do the same on the shiny
side. (This is similar to how you curl a piece of ribbon with a knife).
 Step 3: Take one of the strips and roll it around the first two fingers of
your left hand as shown.
 Step 4: Take the second strip and run it under the top loop and over
the bottom loop as shown.
 Step 5: Loop this second strip down and back through the bottom loop.
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David Lupton | 027 4071624
Bettina Anderson | 027 6689449
 Step 6: Bring that same strip up and loop it over the ‘Strip One’ top loop
and under the ‘Strip One’ bottom loop on the top side of the work.
 Step 7: Your work should now look like this, with four
‘tails’ of flax radiating from the central crossover loops.
 Step 8: Pull on each of the ‘tails’ gently to tighten the crossover loops
and form a knot.
 Step 9: Position the knot in the centre of the box/parcel to be wrapped.
Wrap the tails around the box and tie them off on the rear side. This is the
simplest flax bow wrap done. To add a bit more pizzazz, complete Steps 10
and 11.
 Step 10: Make a second knot by following Steps 1 – 8 again (you can use
shorter lengths of flax for this – 50cm long). Trim the ‘tails’ off diagonally
3cm or so from the knot to form a ‘windmill shape’.
 Step 11: Take your second, trimmed windmill shape
and tie it (using a thin thread of flax) on top of the first
wrap on your parcel… and voila! – you have made an all
natural, compostable flax bow wrap! 
Adapted From: Unit 6: The Windmill in Fun with Flax – 50 Projects for Beginners by Mick
Pendergrast. Reed, 1987.
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David Lupton | 027 4071624
Bettina Anderson | 027 6689449