The Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan has a guide (PDF) on using cloth as opposed to paper for wrapping gifts to cut down on the wasted paper usually used in gift wrap, great idea – Link.
12 thoughts on “HOW TO – Use “Furoshiki” (cloth gift wrapping)”
brlittlesays:
We’ve been using cloth giftwrap here in the States for years, but we do it a little differently. Typically, we’ll hit Wal-Mart, Ben Franklin Crafts, Hancock Fabrics and similar places for good deals on Christmas fabric the day after Christmas. Then over the year we’ll sew a variety of bags, large and small, out of it. They range from simple three-sides-topped-with-rickrack jobs to large, tunneled ones with drawstrings and toggles and such.
The year my daughter was adopted from China, we used a semi-pricey imported Chinese brocade in red and gold, which was a big hit. It’s extra work, but it looks really good under the tree. :)
Furoshikisays:
A lot of people think you need to buy Furoshiki but you really can just make them yourself. It’s just cloth!
onlyocelotsays:
So where can we get them in the US? Failing that, what are the ‘right’ dimensions and cloth textures according to the tradition?
onlyocelotsays:
OK, answer my own question…
A web search shows (where I can actually read the dimensions) a couple of sizes. Whether traditional or nouveau, I have no idea.
18″ x 18″
19.5″ square
27″ square
41.3″ square
I am guessing that traditionally, they are made, not bought, and they are sized according to what is needed to properly cover the gift or package.
I was not able to find anything that actually addressed how edges are finished.
brlittlesays:
You could finish the edges with a simple hem and it would look fine.
mwproductionssays:
In Honolulu, you can buy it at Shirokiya. I’ll bet you can get it at Uwajimaya in Seattle. Now all I need to do is find a place in Spokane that sells it…
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We’ve been using cloth giftwrap here in the States for years, but we do it a little differently. Typically, we’ll hit Wal-Mart, Ben Franklin Crafts, Hancock Fabrics and similar places for good deals on Christmas fabric the day after Christmas. Then over the year we’ll sew a variety of bags, large and small, out of it. They range from simple three-sides-topped-with-rickrack jobs to large, tunneled ones with drawstrings and toggles and such.
The year my daughter was adopted from China, we used a semi-pricey imported Chinese brocade in red and gold, which was a big hit. It’s extra work, but it looks really good under the tree. :)
A lot of people think you need to buy Furoshiki but you really can just make them yourself. It’s just cloth!
So where can we get them in the US? Failing that, what are the ‘right’ dimensions and cloth textures according to the tradition?
OK, answer my own question…
A web search shows (where I can actually read the dimensions) a couple of sizes. Whether traditional or nouveau, I have no idea.
18″ x 18″
19.5″ square
27″ square
41.3″ square
I am guessing that traditionally, they are made, not bought, and they are sized according to what is needed to properly cover the gift or package.
I was not able to find anything that actually addressed how edges are finished.
You could finish the edges with a simple hem and it would look fine.
In Honolulu, you can buy it at Shirokiya. I’ll bet you can get it at Uwajimaya in Seattle. Now all I need to do is find a place in Spokane that sells it…