How To Wrap Awkward Shapes: Bottles, Balls And Books

September 11, 2026

How to wrap awkward shapes

Most awkward wrapping problems are solved by putting the thing in a box first. When that is not an option, each shape has a method.

Tissue paper is the workhorse here: it crushes into gaps and gives odd shapes a straight edge to wrap against.

However it is wrapped, the card is the bit they read first and the bit they keep.

Stand the bottle at one end of a paper sheet and roll it tightly, leaving overhang top and bottom.
Tuck the base overhang in like a parcel and fold flat.
Gather the top overhang at the neck and tie with string or ribbon.
Or skip it: stand the bottle in the middle of a square scarf and knot two corners at the neck.

Sit the item in the centre of a circle of paper, then gather the edges up evenly and tie at the top.
Pleat as you gather - even pleats look deliberate, random bunching does not.
Tissue first, then paper, stops the outer layer creasing badly.

Fold clothing into a firm rectangle and slide it into a bag or box before wrapping.
No box? Wrap in tissue first to make a solid parcel, then wrap that.
For blankets and duvets, roll them and tie in three places like a bedroll.

Plants: cellophane or brown paper gathered round the pot and tied at the rim, drainage left open.
Vouchers and cash: roll into a scroll, tie with ribbon and put it in a jar or tin so there is something to unwrap.
Anything spiky: box it. Tools, toys and bikes only ever look good boxed or bagged.

Roll it in paper leaving overhang at both ends, fold the base flat and tie the top at the neck - or knot a scarf round it.

Sit it on a circle of paper, gather the edges evenly into pleats and tie at the top.

Put it in a box. A shoe box and some tissue turn any shape into a neat rectangle.