Wrapping with Fabric

September 1, 2014
Furoshiki might seem a craft best suited to your elegant, wealthy grandmother—one with impeccably good taste and non-arthritic appendages. Who else has means to source furoshiki, a Japanese fabric traditionally made from a roll of kimono cloth? Who else has the time to cut and sew that cloth—not into a square, but something close to one—and then use it as a perfectly folded wrap to contain myriad other objects (a book, a plant, a wine bottle)? As it turns out, anyone who cares about the environment should try furoshiki. By reusing pieces of beautiful cloth, you can create multipurpose recyclable carriers and holders. This step-by-step, artfully photographed guide depicts traditional folds, wraps, and knots from the easiest, most basic “errand wrapping” to the much more elaborate, almost origami-like “dressy wrapping.” Want to wrap your umbrella so that it’s enclosed in cloth and then attaches just so to your purse? There’s a furoshiki for that! With some time, patience, and discerning taste, you can create a furoshiki to make grandma proud.