When shipping fabric, etc overseas/international, if you will check "gift", the receipent will NOT have to pay taxes on it is what I have been told.

Just checked at USPS.com and yes, both the 3" longer legal size and the padded letter size ship at the same $4.95 rate as the letter size flat rate envelope. You can even buy prepaid "forever" postaged packs to be ready for the next rate increase. To stuff in more, though, how about the small flat rate box? It only costs 25 cents more than the enevlope.... All have a maximum weight limit of 70 pounds, and even lead melted into a just-fits block would weigh less than that.

Yes, but the shipper is required by law to truthfully list the contents and the value of the package. Meaning... check it as a "gift" if it truly is a gift, but if it is "merchandise" it must be noted as such.

And, even if it IS a gift, it depends on the laws in the destination country whether it will be taxable of not. Just as an example, taken from the Switzerland Customs website (link posted on page 2 of this thread), it says:

"In certain cases, the market value is taken into account, e.g. in the case of a gift. The market value corresponds to the sum that another buyer would have had to pay for the item."

In Vanuatu (not that anyone would ship there, but---), our post office allows $50.00 value as free of duty for a gift, but they also add in the postage to that $50.00-so, if the item is declared at $35.00, and postage was $25.00, the total value is $60.00 and over the gift limit, so they charge duty on the WHOLE amount!!But then again, this is Vanuatu, and they have no income tax, so they rip you off anyway they want.

You can do it if it is just one cut. The key is at the end...folding in thirds.....

We can get 7-8 yds of cotton fabric in a FRE. It just takes practice to know how to fold it. Only about 4 yds of flannel will fit. If you get your postage on line you can ship for 4.75 with free delivery confirmation.