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Furoshiki: The ultimate guide to Japanese fabric wrapping

Learn everything you need to know about Furoshiki wrapping, including techniques, styles and it's rich history!

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Published: October 19, 2023 at 7:00 am

Furoshiki wrapping is more popular than ever this year as more and more people seek sustainable ways to give gifts. After all, is there anything nicer than beautifully wrapped gifts?

Forget finding the end of the sticky tape or coordinating your ribbon with your bow – this Furoshiki-inspired wrap uses only a single piece of cloth with simple folds and ties.

And the best bit? Your recipient can use the fabric again! This is such a simple, yet striking idea, and takes your wrapping game to a whole new level.

What is furoshiki?

Furoshiki are traditional Japanese wrapping cloths most commonly used to wrap presents, foods, and clothes. They've been used since 794 (the Hessian period in Japan) and are becoming increasingly popular in the 21st century as an opposition to all the plastic and paper wrapping we use.

Furoshiki is eco-friendly as the cloths are used over and over again.

Can you use any fabric for furoshiki?

Yes! Furoshiki can be done with any fabric really with silk, cotton, nylon - anything you have on hand. Becki has used cotton in this furoshiki tutorial but you can use whatever material you have in your stash (not if you're wrapping food though, check out our beeswax wrap tutorial for that!).

Now on with our furoshiki tutorial...

furoshiki wrapping step 3

What you’ll need for the Furoshiki wrapping tutorial:

  • A square piece of fabric
  • Foliage (optional)

How to do Furoshiki wrapping

You will need:

  • Fabric
  • Foilage (optional)

Step 1

Cut a square of fabric then place your present diagonally in the centre of the fabric piece. Your fabric will need to be a fair size bigger than the gift to ensure you can wrap the box with enough material to tie.

furoshiki wrapping step 1

Step 2

Tieing furoshiki is really easy. Take the opposite corners of the fabric and simply tie it over the top of the box.

furoshiki wrapping step 2

Step 3

You can then gather the other two corners and tie on top doubling up the knot to secure.

furoshiki wrapping step 3

Step 4

It’s as easy as that! Finish with any florals or foliage.

furoshiki wrapping step 4

Furoshiki wrapping cloth

As we mentioned you can use any cloth to wrap your gifts so raiding your stash is a good place to start. If you are in need of cloths, have a look through our favourite Furoshiki wrapping cloths.

1. Simple Christmas Furoshiki wrapping cloth by The Eco Cottage

furoshiki cloths 1

This simple yet elegant Furoshiki would be perfect for an understated Christmas. It is available in a natural colour and is decorated with beautiful snowdrops ideal for the festive season. The cloth is made from 100% cotton and is available in a variety of sizes depending on your needs. There’s also fabric gift tags available to finish your wrapping in style.


2. Bright Furoshiki cloth by KarakorumCrafts

furoshiki cloths 2

If you need wraps for any occasion these Furoshiki cloths are a great place to start. With their vibrant colours and eye-catching patterns, they work well for any special occasion.

They are available in a set of four, each cloth with a different design.The cloths come in thee different sizes, so are suitable for a range of gifts.


3. Traditional Furoshiki cloth by Maeda-senkou

furoshiki cloths 3

This gorgeous design featuring magical Koi fish is ideal for any occasion. This Furoshiki is made in Japan from 100% cotton and comes in large 19×19 inches! It’s ideal for larger gifts and will certainly impress your recipient.


4. Furoshiki cloth by OlsenolsenDesign

furoshiki cloths 4

If you want to go bold and bright these Furoshiki cloths are perfect! Available in a range of block colours, they will certainly make an impact on your gift-giving. There’s two sizes to choose from and 12 lovely colours.


5. Linen Furoshiki cloth by LovelyHeartThings

furoshiki cloths 5

These linen Furoshiki will add a touch of elegance to your gifts. The material is light and soft, so it would work perfectly for wedding or baby shower gifts. There’s a variety of colours available.


Go eco-friendly with Furoshiki

Furoshiki is a fantastic option for those eco-conscious gift-givers since you can omit plastic for fabric. These fabric wraps can be used many times over, and always look impressive!

Other ways to make celebrating earth-friendly

Now you’ve sorted your wrapping, take a look through our best eco-friendly gifts to get inspired.

eco friendly gifts