What is Furoshiki? The Art of Japanese Fabric Wrapping
Furoshiki is more than just a way to wrap. It’s a thoughtful expression of care, blending beauty, sustainability, and practicality. In Japan, presentation has always been an art, where wrapping a gift isn’t just about packaging but about showing respect and intention.
Originally used for carrying personal belongings, furoshiki has become a versatile tradition embraced worldwide for gift-giving, organization, and everyday use.
I still remember when my dad took his first trip to Japan many, many moons ago. Just as he was about to walk out of a store and hop on the bus back to the hotel with his crew, he spotted the perfect gift for my mom. He thought he could just grab it and run, but oh no, the kind lady at the counter had other plans. “That will not do, sir,” she said. Before he knew it, she had wrapped the gift so beautifully that it became part of the experience itself.
Why Wrap Books With Furoshiki? Beauty, Sustainability, and Sentiment
Now that we got the good stuff out of the way, we can get to the fun part, the sewing! In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to wrap books using furoshiki techniques, combining beauty, sustainability, and sentiment. We’ll pair Gayle Loraine’s beautiful fabrics with the timeless covers of the Village Lane Classics Collection, featuring classics like Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and more. Each book has its own place in literature, and each fabric matches its spirit perfectly.
How to Choose the Right Size of Furoshiki Fabric
A good rule of thumb when selecting furoshiki fabric is that it should be about three times larger than the size of the item you’re wrapping. For example, if you’re wrapping a book that’s 8 inches by 5 inches, your furoshiki fabric should ideally be at least 24 inches square. This gives you plenty of fabric to fold, tie, and create the beautiful wrapping style that furoshiki is known for.
- Choose your book & fabrics
“It is not every man’s fate to marry the woman who loves him best.” The wit and charm of Emma Woodhouse come to life in both this book and the fabric that wraps it. I love the bi-color wrapping effect. While you can use a single fabric with hemmed edges or even more than two fabrics, too many seams can make folding trickier. I debated whether to choose fabrics inspired by Emma or Pride and Prejudice and ultimately decided on Emma. These two fabrics capture her bold, lively spirit perfectly. Which quote from the book is your favorite?
- Cut your fabrics
My book measures 5.25” x 8”, so my furoshiki fabric should be at least 24” x 24” (8” x 3 = 24”) to allow for proper wrapping. Here’s the list of the pieces you need:
- (1) 12.5” x 24.5” (Red)
- (1) 12.5” x 24.5” (White)
- (1) 24.5” x 24.5” for lining (I used Magnolia Dreams Night from Gayle Loraine Collection)
- Assemble your furoshiki fabric wrap
Sew (2) 12.5” x 24.5” accent fabrics, right sides together and press the seam open. Place the lining fabric on top, pin in place with the right sides together. Be sure to leave a 4 – 5 inch gap for turning. Sew along the edges with ¼” seam allowance, trim off the excess fabric at the four corners for crisper points when turning.
Reach through the opening and turn it right side out. Use the point turner to push out the corners, press and topstitch with ⅛” seam allowance.
- Wrap your book using furoshiki technique
This wrap is big enough for both books, so I’m going to show how to wrap both books using a single fabric wrap in this tutorial. If you’re wrapping just one book and find that you have a little extra fabric, simply tuck a bit more under the book. First, center the books and fold one corner over them, then tuck the corner of the wrap under the books.
Fold the opposite corner toward the center, right next to the books, as shown. Grab the folded corner and place it on top of the books.
Tuck the excess fabrics along the corners of the books just like you would when you wrap a present with paper. Bring the remaining corners to the center and tie them in a square knot at the top. Tie the ends into a double knot and adjust the tails as needed.
Furoshiki wrapping is an easy and fun way to give a book that extra something special. With just a few steps, you can turn any book into a beautifully wrapped gift that’s as thoughtful as the story inside. It’s a great way to show you care. Would you go for a bi-color or a single fabric wrap?
I had so much fun making a matching furoshiki wrap for my youngest, who’s all about Greek mythology. It might be more fun for me than her, but now she can carry her favorite book in style! You can also add a matching gift tag or personalized Book Tracker for an extra special touch!I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Share what you’re currently reading and don’t forget to tag us @Quilters_Candy. We’d love to see what you make!
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