How to make a DIY fabric cracker

These fabric crackers were popular in Victorian times and may be remembered by our grandparents! It’s a little tricky to pick up at first but simple once you know how. The genius of this method is that it doesn’t produce any waste. You can tuck treats inside, and the sides of the cracker actually pull apart (albeit without a ‘snap') and the gifts pop out! 

Materials needed:

• Napkins or square pieces of fabric
• Paper crowns
• Sweets or chocolates
• Small toys

Step 1

Begin with a largish square napkin or piece of fabric

Step 2

Fold it into a one large triangle shape

Step 3

Fold the 2 triangle edges inward but not so that they touch. This bit determines the length of the central part of the cracker.

Step 4

Carefully roll down the top edge and fold it over 3 times so there is a triangle tail of fabric left hanging out. Flip it over.

Step 5

Gather the 2 rolled edges together, cross them over and hold with one hand. Hold the triangle tail bit of fabric that is hanging out, and bring it over where you have crossed the 2 edges over.

Step 6

This is the tricky bit! Tuck the triangle tail bit of fabric into the hole. There is no longer any fabric tail hanging out, it should be neatly tucked inside. This creates a bowl shape in the napkin. In here, place some small treats such as a paper crown, sweets, present and joke.

For adult crackers, we love these sweet knitted trinkets from Gry & Sif, Bird callers from Quelle Est Belle, socks, and this little knitting tool which is great for gifting a creative! For the kids crackers, we filled ours with good quality pencils, Grapat pieces, small Ostheimer animals and little wool Fairies!

Step 7

Hold the bowl in your hands, and, using your forefingers, find the edge of the rolled bit of fabric on the outside of the bundle. Use your fingers to unroll this fabric, which means you will start to cover up your treats. Roll the fabric up and over the bowl of treats.  Once the fabric is fully unrolled, you will find 2 little corners poking out. Gently pull these out of the fabric- these are the ends of your cracker!

Step 8

Gently tug the ends of the cracker out until they are out of the main body of the cracker. Fan them out to make them look full. Then, neaten the main body of the cracker by poking your finger into the edges like this. 

Then, it’s finished! When you pull the ends of the cracker, the treat pops out! You can find Hannah and more of her wonderful world here!