Furoshiki - Japanese Knot Wrapping

Hi Kel here, with one of my favourite things that I know how to do. 

I have always loved wrapping presents all fancy for people and tried to make an effort with them. At the same time though, like many people, we are trying to reduce, reuse, recycle the amount of waste we create. The Japanese have a brilliant solution - furoshiki, a cloth wrapping.

 I have been collecting square scarves from vintage and thrift shops for the last year, and there is an amazing range of colours, sizes and material available. Happily, I collected enough that we were able to wrap all of our Christmas presents for family in furoshiki this year. I didn't get a great photo of all of them, so here is a selection. I do think they look lovely, myself, and have all the mystery and excitement of coloured paper and bows. I am happy for people to keep the wrappings if they will use them in some way, but my in-laws all donated them back to the cause.

My goal is to have a good range, so that I am ready for any size or shape of pressie and can use someone's favourite colour, or use one colour under the tree. I nearly managed it this year, but it meant that my own gifts were in the random left-over scarves. I was most impressed that my husband entered into the spirit of things and wrapped mine in furoshiki too (as best he could :-) )  One unexpected bonus is that both my husbands' parents have suffered strokes in the past, so each have one week hand, and I tied their bundles securely to go under the tree, but loosened them up before giving and they were much less stressful for them to open.

(click on the picture for a clear view of the instructions)

Traditionally, furoshiki were used to wrap packages, carry lunches, shopping and clothes. Sadly, even in Japan, the plastic bag grew in popularity and the furoshiki was becoming less common. In 2006, the minister of the environment launched a campaign to rediscover the art, including some newly designed cloths made from recycled plastic bottles and the above instructions for wrapping many different shapes and types of gift.

I didn't want this post to be too Christmassy, but as the new year is a time for good intentions and fresh starts, I thought I would share one way that I am going to keep the fun of wrapping presents in a pretty and exciting way, while reducing my impact on the earth.

Thanks for stopping by,

Kel x

Comments

[Debbie Roberts]

Oh I think I need to have a good look at this and have a go myself.

What sort of thickness fabrics are they? x

[K]

Oooo, what a unique way to wrap pressies, & its the perfect time to do a post on it as it gives us a whole year to collect scarfs for christmas from shops, car boots & charity stores.

I wonder if bandanas would work, I have a couple of unused ones waiting for a project to scream out to them.

[alexa]

Fantastic idea! Wondering if I could make patchwork ones out of bits and pieces of left-over fabric ... Inspirational!

[Claireliz]

What a fab idea Kel, I'm going to try this
C
xx

[Eleanor]

Fab post, another great reason to haunt the charity shops, and so easy to store soft silky squares. I want to get out there and find them right now (but am snowed in - again!).
xx

[Lynne V]

Fantastic idea. I'm going to try your idea too.

[Suzanne]

They are brilliant!

[Kelly]

K, Bandanas would definitely work for smaller items - I've even used (new!) hankies before that had nice stripes on them. And Alexa, patchwork ones would be very pretty, but to keep the knots nice, the seams would have to be very flat and simple.

Be sure and share pictures, everyone - of your charity shop finds and pretty parcels!

Kel x

[Joy]

Great idea. I have lots of offcuts of material that could be put to good use.

[Scrapdolly]

I have never heard of this but I love it and can see myself collecting scarves and material all year too