Creating Customized Packing Boxes for Stemware

Of all the fragile things we have to take when moving, stemware is perhaps the one that causes the lady of the house the most stress. But there's a great method of packing and moving them that will ensure they get to their new destination unharmed.

What you need are packing boxes with individual compartments for each piece of stemware. Some packing supply companies carry such cardboard boxes. If your supply company doesn't, or you just don't want to spend the extra money, you can create your own. All you need in one or two of the flat pack boxes you're ordering anyway, plus a few scrap boxes from the local market. You'll be using the scrap boxes to cut the strips that will make up the individual compartments.

First, measure the interior length of your packing boxes. Cut enough strips from the scrap boxes to create rows inside. A distance of 3 ½” between rows should be sufficient for most stemware. If you're concerned yours needs a little more space, just measure the diameter of one piece and add 1/4”. The height of the strips should be about ½ inch less than the interior height of the box.

Next, measure the interior width of the packing box and cut strips to run perpendicular. They should be the same height as the long ones, and spaced at the same distance between. Place the long ones in the box and temporarily fasten them with packing tape then measure along the top of each strip at 3 ½” intervals, cutting a notch with a pair of scissors. Lay the shorter strips across and mark the intersecting points. Cut notches at your marks. If you've measured correctly, you should now be able to slip the shorter strips over the long ones to create a grid of 3 ½” compartments.