Wrapping with Fabric. Your Complete Guide to Furoshiki-The Japanese Art of Wrapping

116 Pages·2014·32.7 MB·English

by  Etsuko Yamada and Kanji Okamoto

WR APPING
with FABRIC
Your Complete Guide to Furoshiki
The Japanese Art of Wrapping
Etsuko Yamada
Photos by Kanji Okamoto
TUT TLE Publishing
Tokyo Rutland, Vermont Singapore
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Contents
Methods of Wrapping 4
Some Furoshiki Memories 6
The Versatility of Furoshiki 7
The Basic Knot 15
Bag Styles 39
Ribbon Bag 40
Simple Bag 42
Shopping Bag 44
Flat Wrapping 18 Shoulder Bag A 46
Errand Wrapping 20 Shoulder Bag B 48
Hidden Wrapping 22 Balloon Bag 50
Two Vertical Knots 24 Picnic Basket 52
Two Horizontal Knots 26 Dress-Up Bag 54
Pole Wrapping 28 Book Wrapping 56
Roll Wrapping 30 Umbrella Wrapping 58
Watermelon Wrapping 32 Shoulder Bag C 60
Bottle Wrapping 34 Bouquet Wrapping 62
Two-Bottle Wrapping 36 Backpack 64
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Gifts 67 Interior Decorations 89
Flower Wrapping A 68 Cushion Cover 90
Flower Wrapping B 70 Book Cover 92
Rose Wrapping 72 Tissue Box Cover 94
Ribbon Wrapping 74 Twist Wrapping 96
Gift Bottle A 76 Style for Living 98
Gift Bottle B 78
Dressy Wrapping 80 Sizes and Uses 100
Combination Wrapping 82 Design and Materials 101
Twin Holder 84 Design Composition 102
Flower-Pot Wrapping 86 Colors 103
Materials 104
Patterns 105
Etiquette: A Few Basics 107
Hirazutsumi and Furoshiki 108
“Wrapping Culture” and “One Item, Many
Functions” 108
Wrapping and Tying: Past and Present 110
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Methods of Wrapping
Secure wrapping Wrapping flat objects
P24
P20
P18
P32
P74
P22
Gorgeous Wrapping
P70
P68
Wrapping long and slender objects
P26
P30
P72
P28
Wrapping bottles
P76
P82
P34
P78
P36
4
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Carrying on your back Wrapping with a handle
P62
P60
P48
P64
P52
P80 P96
Carrying on your shoulder or arm
P42
P46
P84
P50 P56
P44
Decorating a bag Attached on outside
P40
P54
P58
Cover P86
P90
Interior decorations
P98 P99
P92
P94
5
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Some Furoshiki Memories
By Amy Katoh
Two mornings every week a red-cheeked farmer’s wife came to our neighborhood with
a giant indigo furoshiki lashed to her back bearing everything she had pulled and
picked from the fields that morning in Chiba Prefecture. Thirty years later, she still
comes, but today her son drives her here, and the produce is brought in cardboard
boxes that she wheels along on a dolly for easy movement. We both remember the
furoshiki deliveries.
When I lived with a family during my first year in Japan at age 20, specially made
clothing was delivered to our house in furoshiki. I remember my feeling of wonder
when the cloth bundles arrived.
Furoshiki picnics—the thrill, the promise, the surprise, of opening them.
The kimono salesman who sold his wares at the house where I stayed when I first
came to Japan in 1962 would carry his whole shop’s inventory tied in a furoshiki on his
back. Upon entering the tatami-matted room he would open his furoshiki and, with a
flourish, roll the splashy bolts of kimono silk out onto the mat to show the full length of
his treasures.
Art dealers keep their treasures in bright yellow squares of cotton furoshiki. I know
the package contains something special when I see that distinctive color.
Huge furoshiki are used to wrap futon bedding. They are stored away in a closet
when not in use.
Antique dealers at the flea markets transport their goods to the weekly markets in
faded furoshiki. Here it is important not to judge the content by its cover. Furoshiki
mismatches often make for surprises.
A furoshiki wrapped the ashes of the son of our beloved contractor Tazaki-san. We
had gone to the interment, and as we were heading for home the elder son met us. He
was carrying his brother’s ashes in a silver brocade furoshiki, and he asked if we would
please give them both a ride to the cemetery. His brother had always loved old cars,
and he wanted his brother’s last ride to be in our old sports car.
One of my closest friends, Harumi Nibe, is a flower lover. She finds amazing wild
flowers by the roadside and also grows her own flowers. For years she came to Blue &
White once or twice a week to arrange her green offerings of the season. To see her
arrive at the door with her plaid, worn furoshiki filled with leaves and blossoms—gifts
of nature—was always exciting. And when she opened the furoshiki, it was filled with
joy and vibrancy (and often bugs and spiders and other insects). This was a furoshiki of
life itself.
To wrap the world with words is easy. But to wrap life in a small square of cloth is
unbelievable.
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The Versatility of Furoshiki 1
One piece of fabric can be transformed in a variety of ways depending on what is being wrapped. It is
truly ever-changing!
One cloth seven ways—about 28in (70cm) polyester wrapping cloth
7
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The Versatility of Furoshiki 2
How would you carry these things?
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