Although fabric wrapping is quick and easy, it can take some getting used to! As with conventional wrapping paper, there's a few things to look out for, such as sizing of the wrap. There are so many things you can do with furoshiki, it might be quite hard as a beginner. That's why we wanted to put together this blog post to address some common furoshiki mistakes, while providing tips on how you can fix or avoid them.
Furoshiki are traditional Japanese wrapping cloths that can be used as gift wrapping, as accessories, or even décor. Their versatility is what makes them so intriguing to many eco-conscious people. If you want to get started with furoshiki, we want to encourage you not to feel intimidated! As with anything, the wrapping process might take some practice on your part - but you'll enjoy the wrapping in no time and you will have added a sustainable and mindful practice to your life.
Let's get started! And remember - mistakes are not supposed to discourage you, they should inspire you to learn. Happy Wrapping!
1. Choosing the Wrong Size Cloth
We've all been there: we're wrapping a gift and the size wrapping paper we've cut doesn't fit the gift like we expected. The same thing can happen with furoshiki! Different size gifts or wrapping techniques need different sizes of furoshiki, so there's a few things you need to consider before wrapping. Here's how to avoid choosing the wrong size cloth, or how to fix your too big or small furoshiki:
- Measure your gift before choosing the cloth. On our website, we've put together a practical size guide to help you choose the right FabRap, however, the rules work the same for any fabric cloth that you may have. Click here for some great tips!
- Decide on a wrapping technique beforehand. Whereas simple knots may require only little excess fabric, more advanced wrapping techniques may require a much bigger furoshiki than your gift. Watching tutorials can help you visualise what size cloth you might need to wrap a certain gift.
- Switch your wrapping technique. If your gift is too small or too big, try a different wrapping technique. This is a great way to still fix this common mistake. If your fabric is way too small, there is unfortunately not much you can do. If it's a little too small while wrapping, try finding a technique that requires only few or no knots at all. If your fabric cloth is way to big, there's an easy way to fix this: advanced wrapping techniques often have more elaborate knots that require more fabric - and they look great, too.
2. Ignoring Fabric Type and Thickness
Choosing the right material for your furoshiki is an important part to the wrapping process - trust us, we know! Some fabrics are easier to knot with, others are harder. For instance, lots of furoshiki are made of silk satin or similar, slippery materials that can make it hard for beginners to wrap. Cotton on the other hand is not only thin, but also has enough grip if you're a beginner. Here are some tips to help you find the right fabric type and thickness:
- Beginner or Expert? Depending on what you are, we recommend choosing different fabric types. As a beginner, use textured fabrics or cotton for easier tying. After all, you will need to practice wrapping with furoshiki and slippery materials might make that harder at the beginning. If you're an expert, you can pretty much wrap with anything, but there are some more factors to consider when choosing your fabric type and thickness.
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Light or Heavy Gift? A paperback book is lighter than a hardcover and a coffee mug is lighter than a flower vase. The weight of your gift should also factor into your decision-making when it comes to choosing the right type of fabric. If you're going to wrap a heavier gift, choose thicker fabrics - like our double-sided cotton furoshiki. If you're wrapping lighter gifts, thinner fabrics like silk are good to use.
- Wrapping Technique. Slippery fabrics like silk satin or polyester might require you to make more knots than a cotton furoshiki would. This is why it's important to think about how you might want to wrap your gift beforehand.
3. Weak or Loose Knots
You've wrapped your gifts but your knots look sloppy and come undone - it happens to every furoshiki wrapper at least once! But don't worry, it's all about practice.
- Pull tight. We might not be that used to it because conventional wrapping paper usually rips when we're too hard on it, but fabrics are very durable and they can take a lot of tension. Of course, you shouldn't pull too hard, but in order for your knots to be strong, you need to pull your knots tight in the wrapping process. For that, you might need some practice, but once you figure it out, your knots will look great.
- Practice secure knots. The square-knot (ma-musubi) or the umbrella wrap (kasa-tsutsumi) are secure and beautiful knots that you can learn to improve your knot stability. Give it a try!
- Tuck in your ends. When you have a slightly bigger furoshiki than you would need, you might make a knot that has long ends sticking out, making your knot look a little sloppy. Don't worry - you can tuck these ends in and create an aesthetically pleasing gift wrapping. For instance, you can tuck the ends of your corners under the knot, creating a stunning flower on top of your gift.
4. Uneven Wrapping
If your gift looks unevenly wrapped or singular corners are sticking out, there are two common reasons:
- Your item was not centered. When wrapping with furoshiki, make sure to center your gift before wrapping. If it's not centered, your wrap might look uneven. Of course, you can place your item outside of the center for special wrapping techniques, but if your wrap is not big enough, corners might stick out.
- Your furoshiki isn't sewn properly. Whether you make your own furoshiki or are using a bought one, it can always happen that the furoshiki is sewn unevenly. If the corners don't fit on top of each other or one side is a little crooked, it might not cause any problems in the best case, but it can also make your gift look unevenly wrapped.
5. Forgetting Functionality
Furoshiki is not only an ancient wrapping technique that looks nice. First and foremost, it is supposed to be practical, as those were its origins. Here's some ideas to make your gift wrap more functional.
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Wrap as a bag. Furoshiki are multi-purpose and very versatile. Instead of traditionally wrapping your gift tightly, you could place it inside a furoshiki bag and gift it alongside the gift to raise awareness for the functional nature of the cloth.
- Add handles. You can add handles to your gift not only by wrapping them in bags, but also by using unique wrapping techniques.
6. Cultural Context Faux Pas
Perhaps you have used furoshiki inappropriately or are unaware of its cultural symbolism. After all, furoshiki have a long history with their origin being in Japan. There, the cloths are deeply embedded into culture and have ritual and traditional meanings that you should know about before engaging in the art of furoshiki.
- Get informed. There are plenty of sources on furoshiki online where you can read all about traditional ceremonies and its cultural roots. This may also help you choose the fitting furoshiki for the occasion.
As you can see, getting started with Furoshiki can be a challenge but you'll be fine! Practice makes perfect and you will keep improving the more you engage with the art of furoshiki. Remember: the most important thing is doing something good for the environment by incorporating sustainable practices into your life while honouring the cultural roots of furoshiki.