Furoshiki: features of the Japanese wrapping technique

Furoshiki is the Japanese art of packing things in fabric. It is not known for certain when it appeared. But on engravings dated to the 2nd century AD e., already found images of women carrying bundles of fabric on their heads. Furoshiki bag analogs are found in many cultures, but only in Japan did this hobby gain such a scale. The stage of greatest development occurred in the 7th-8th centuries AD. e.

The very word "Furoshiki" can be translated as "a rug for going to the bath." They took the mat with them to stand on it when changing into a bathing kimono, they wrapped a street kimono and a bathing kimono in it after water procedures. Over time, pieces of fabric began to be used to carry various items. And although now there is no practical need for this art, it continues to be popular in Japan and in other countries of the world.

This art can be applied in four cases:

1. when you need to transfer something;
2. when you need to pack a gift beautifully;
3. when you need to pack something to preserve the item;
4. for home and table decoration.

In order to transfer something, you can roll your bag on your shoulder or to carry it in your hands. It can be a bag for carrying it on your head, although this is rarely seen now. A hanging fabric bag for carrying a child in front can also be made using this technique.

And although such an accessory will look very unusual, you need to remember that if you need to get a thing from a bag, you will need to completely or partially untie it. And if you need to collect products from the store in such a bag, for example, you will need a separate place for this. This is not very convenient in the reality of the European lifestyle. Although for fashion students, such a bag will be an excellent alternative to heavy frame bags. It is worth thinking in advance about which scheme to use.

Even the most unpretentious gift will look good in a beautiful wrapper made of fabric. Hard, soft or flowing fabrics will create a unique wrapper. Bright canvases with patterns are usually used for this purpose. Over the centuries of development of this art, packaging schemes for any form have accumulated. For example, for bottles (one, two or even three), books, rectangular and square objects, dishes, souvenirs or flowers.

And also use this technique when you need to save something for a long time. It is worth saying that one of the reasons for the appearance of this art was precisely the need to preserve food. Unlike European residents, the Japanese did not need to store food for a long time. Food could be obtained all year round, so the food was not stored for more than 3-4 days. Some of the analogs for this purpose of Furoshiki may be the habit of our grandmothers to wrap clothes and objects in cloth before putting them into storage.

Furoshiki is used not only for packing items during transportation, but also for decorating your own home. For example, when making bottles, vases, floor lamps. Special mention deserves decoration in the fabric of flower pots and kitchen utensils. In addition, the Japanese practice wrapping sweets and sweets. At the same time, each candy should be wrapped in a separate flap. Fruits are allowed to be packed together.

There are no restrictions on the materials used in Furoshiki. It all depends solely on the desires of the designer and specific circumstances. In Japan, they love bright fabrics, which they use for needlework. We give general recommendations for the most common cases.

To create bags it is best to use strong, dense, but not very heavy fabrics. Batiste, Bengaline, velor, gabardine and staple fabrics are suitable. As well as jacquard material and diagonal. Such materials are characterized by lightness, wear resistance, simplicity. It is also important that they almost do not change their shape, which means that a piece of fabric will last longer. The material can be monotonous or patterned, depending on your style of clothing.

For home decoration, there are no limitations in materials, in general. But it is recommended not to use fleecy fabrics such as velvet, velor, velveteen, as they will collect dust and pile on themselves. For small items, it is better to use fabrics with a high drapability rating. For example, cambric, staple, chiffon, silk and madonna.

In order to pack the item “in the long box”, you can use both old sheets and specially purchased fabric. Cotton, linen and chiffon fabrics are suitable.

In order to pack a gift, it is recommended to take patterned, loose materials. This is dictated by the fact that if you plan to make a pen when packing a small item, it will be easier to make soft and thin materials. If you do not plan to leave pens and knit large knots, then there are no restrictions in the materials. Silk, cambric, jacquard, velvet, chiffon, guipure, viscose, velor, satin and polyester are well suited.

The size of the segment can be any convenient. Traditionally, Japan used square pieces of fabric with sides 48 cm, 52 cm, 70 cm, 100-105 cm, 128 cm, 174 cm, 195 cm.

Here are some examples of how you can diversify your life using a piece of fabric and the technique of wrapping objects.

We need a piece of material diagonally equal to the triple length of one bottle.

1. We put the bottles so that the necks look at different angles of the same diagonal, and there is a gap of 7-8 cm between the bottoms.
2. Twist the "roll" of fabric with a "filling" of bottles.
3. Fold in half so that the bottles are close. We tie a knot from the corners above the necks.

Consider how to quickly roll up a bag (for example, take the student version with books):

1. we need such a segment that the four widths of the book fit into the diagonal;
2. we divide all the books into two parts, and put them along the edges of the segment;
3. now we wrap the remaining corners (closest to them) on them and fold them again so that the covers completely disappear under the cloth, and the books themselves are nearby;
4. shift each free end of the canvas to the opposite side;
5. we turn the structure over, tie the free ends of the canvas with a knot at the height we need.

How to pack a stack of bed linen for storage:

1. spread the material into 3 stack heights;
2. put a stack in the center;
3. alternately tie the diagonally opposite ends of the material;
4. hanging “ears” we tuck inward to completely hide the stack.

Using Furoshiki, you can beautifully wrap a rounded object (for example, a case):

1. select a piece of fabric so that it is equal to two lengths of the case;
2. put the case on one of the corners, and wrap the roll;
3. we wrap the corners sticking out of the case so that the end of the roll does not fall out;
4. we form a beautiful knot or bow.

Furoshiki is a beautiful traditional Japanese art that will help bring harmony and beauty to life.

See how to pack your present using the Furoshiki technique yourself in the next video.