Furoshiki Gift Wrapping

Furoshiki Gift Wrapping is a traditional Japanese method of using fabric to wrap your belongings. By using a square piece of fabric 4 times the size of your item, you can wrap things like presents for birthdays and holidays. It can also be used for transporting items and home decor.

I have not purchased or used any traditional wrapping paper in years. I love using this method when it comes to birthdays or holidays. Originally I had gone to my local thrift shop and found a few yards of fabric that I could use to wrap some Christmas presents. I simply cut the fabric to an appropriate size so it would fit my gift, made a few knots and voila!

Why Use Furoshiki Gift Wrapping

We have been wrapping gifts in paper for years and old habits die hard. Try thinking outside the box. I know it may seem odd to wrap a gift in fabric but there are a few good reasons to give it a try.

Eco-Friendly

This is a great alternative to using disposable wrapping paper. A lot of recycling centers won’t take wrapping paper so you have to toss it in the trash. If you use a cotton or other natural material it can be composted when it is no longer usable.

Reusable

Unlike traditional wrapping paper, cloth or any fabric can be used dozens of times. Until it acquires any holes or rips it’s endlessly reusable.

Saves Money

Instead of having to go buy more wrapping year after year, you can use last year’s wrapping fabric. Instead, head over to your craft bin, closet or craft room and pull out some fabric and cut it to the size you need. Easy peasy!

Any Fabric Can Be Used

It’s okay if you don’t have a yard of fabric hanging around your house. The possibilities are endless of things you could use.

Have a pretty tea towel you love the print of? Even better, a vintage handkerchief! If you have a pretty large box you could even use a tablecloth.

Years ago I had made a “diaper cake” for a baby shower and I used plastic to wrap the “cake” to keep it together. I wish I had thought to use some fabric to wrap it with. The plastic ended up breaking, deeming useless. Had I used fabric, the mother would then have been able to save that fabric and use it to make clothes if she wanted to for her baby. Multipurpose!

Don’t have a box? No Problem!

You don’t need a box in order to use the furoshiki gift wrapping method. You can simply place the item in the center of your fabric and wrap it as is. Very easily you can wrap things oddly shaped like a wine bottle right down to a pair of earrings.

Once, I gave a jar of my homemade body butter as a gift and just took a small square of fabric and tied a few knots.

A creative idea would be using the item your giving as the fabric. For example, a receiving blanket to wrap the other baby gifts.

Would you like the fabric back?

This is a question I have been asked after I have given someone a gift. I will gladly take the fabric back home and use it for another gift giving opportunity in the future.

I will also offer them to keep the fabric if they like it. Sometimes they may like the fabric or print and want to use it for a project of their own. Then if their curious, I will fill them in on how I wrap it and why I do it. Sometimes they think it’s a very creative idea and want to try it themselves.

Other Ways to Use the Furoshiki Gift Wrapping

• Pillow Cover
• A Lunch Bag
• DIY Shopping Bag
• Wrapping a Potted Plant

How to do Furoshiki Gift Wrapping

For each of these folding patterns you will need your fabric of choice that is at least 4 times the size of your item. If you have an item that is roughly 4 inches by 4 inches then you will want a piece of fabric that is at least 9 inches by 9 inches.

Note: You may want to hem your fabric if it’s something that tends to fray. It will keep your present a bit more tidy and from falling apart.

Here’s a Tip: If you don’t have a sewing machine you could always use some fabric tape instead. This is an inexpensive and easy way to hem your fabric edges.

Wrapping Square or Rectangular Items

1. Lay your fabric out in a diamond shape on your work surface with the print side facing down.

2. Place your item diagonally in the center of your fabric.

3. If you have a rectangular item draw up the corners on either side of the longest edges. With the fabric pulled tight, tie the two corners together tightly.

4. Now pull up the two remaining corners, pull tightly and tie it twice so it makes a knot. *If the item you are wrapping is square, it does not matter which opposite corners you tie up first.

Wrapping long items like a Bottle

1. Lay your fabric out in a diamond shape on your work surface with the print side facing down.

2. Place your bottle upright in the center of your fabric.

3. Pull up on the front and back corners of the fabric and pull to the top of the bottle and tie it tightly.

4. Take the two remaining corners and wrap around the back of the bottle in opposite directions and wrap it towards the front.

5. Tie the two corners together tightly in a knot.

How to add handles to your Furoshiki Gift Wrap

You will want to have your fabric a little bit larger then you may need so that you have enough to make the handles.

1. Wrap your present as usual.

2. When your ready to tie the last two corners, tie one knot then stop there.

3. Take a remaining corner in each hand and twist each one separately.

4. Tie the two, now twisted, corners together in a double knot as close to the ends as possible.

You have now successfully folded 3 different Furoshiki wrapping methods! With Mothers Day coming up you could use some of these folds for any gifts you may be giving.

Enjoy!

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