After seeing La Fuji Mama's post about furoshiki. I had commented and she asked me to post about my Coach furoshiki. (I got the Coach furoshiki when I purchased a fashion magazine here.)I then went through all my furoshiki....I didn't realize it but I do have somewhat of a collection.
A bunny chirimen (crepe) furoshiki (46 cm x 46 cm).
And the Gion matsuri cotton furoshiki (100 cm x 100 cm).
A Laura Ashley cotton handkerchief that turned into a furoshiki (56 cm x 56 cm).
Sbilla (which I think is a Japanese brand) cotton furoshiki (48 cm x 48 cm).
Cotton tea towel that turned into a furoshiki (48 cm x 48 cm).
And the polyester Coach furoshiki (70 cm x 70 cm). This one is a bit stiff, guess it will take some time to soften.
Here are some ways to use furoshiki from the magazine article--as a means to carry wine, cake, flowers or as a bag. This site offers techniques on how to tie furoshiki for various objects.
I use the 100 cm x 100 cm furoshiki mainly to carry dishes to pot luck, and the smaller furoshiki to carry bento and mugs to picnics. If you want to help the environment, want to stop using plastic bags but don't know how to sew, this is a great way to carry groceries and gifts because any squarish piece of fabric can turn into a furoshiki. Also, if you use a nice piece of fabric you could use the furoshiki as gift wrapping and give it away along with the gift inside.
Be creative and do your part to help the environment.
I remember my grandmother tying up a hot pot of rice to take over somewhere but it had never occurred to me that perhaps she was doing a form of furoshiki. You know how the different ethnicities must've rubbed off on one another. Very cool post.
ReplyDeletei love furoshiki, nice collection! :)
ReplyDeletewonderful!! I have always wanted to learn this and carry it outside of my bag instead of hoping that it doesn't overflow inside. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have a couple furoshiki and I need to use them more. You have quite a collection!
ReplyDeleteNice collection you have!
ReplyDeleteHi Kat,
ReplyDeletebeautiful day, great post.
Furoshikis are the business-the ultimate eco bag.
K
Great post about a beautiful and sustainable way of carrying things around. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYes a lot of cultures in Hawaii have melded over the years, Rowena, cool story about your grandma :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lori, Bentoist and Hello Sweety!
I hope you will try using furoshiki, Phoebe :)
You should definitely try to use them more Deb :)
Thanks PB, I hope you wil use furoshiki sometime too :)
Take care everyone.
Kat
LOVE seeing your collection! I love furoshiki books/mags too. It's amazing how many ways there are to tie them, isn't it? I'm loving the Coach furoshiki, very chic. ;-)
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked them, Fuji Mama :) That Coach one is still a bit stiff, hoping it will get softer with use.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
what a wonderful idea to offer to the environment~we should all be as clever to carry these~I avoid plastic whenever I can! Great idea with leftover fabrics~
ReplyDeleteThanks Jann, by not taking plastic whenever you can is definitely doing a little :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
You have a great collection there! I'm all thumbs and am terrible with knots -- I wonder if I could handle furoshiki?
ReplyDeleteI don't see why not?! Jenster, you should give them a try :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
Too funny, I just saw some furoshiki fabrics at Enveraak and bought the cherry one. Guess what I'll be doing tonight ;)
ReplyDeleteI think it is great you bought one, Amy, I hope you like using it :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
beautifull ornament..
ReplyDeleteThanks Cahpesisiran, hope you try furoshiki soon :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
I also love furoshiki, but my collection is quite as extensive as yours.
ReplyDeleteAren't they the greatest, Melanie??
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
Sorry if I have made you read back this far, but I just discovered your musings and writings. I wanted to say such fabrics seem too beautiful to make shopping bags! My shopping bags are made of rough canvas, you know, the trademarks of a country pumpkin. But I would love the fabrics you have shown for my omiyage sewing instead! If you can just see through the screen, I am shaking my head left and right, right now...
ReplyDeleteThanks Helena, for everyday shopping I too use rough canvas, these furoshiki are mainly used for gift giving or special occasions. You could definitely use special fabrics for omiyage. I think furoshiki would definitely make a nice Christmas present or stocking stuffer.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
The coach furoshiki can fold into a mini bag too
ReplyDeletehttp://weblog.xanga.com/iluvbag2005/681968668/coach-x-miss-furoshiki-scarf-us-1599.html
Thanks Anon!
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
there is a nice diagram of all the different wrapping methods using furoshiki here
ReplyDeletehttp://japansugoi.com/wordpress/do-you-know-how-to-use-traditional-japanese-furoshiki/
Thanks Anon, it looks like the same diagram that I posted about in my post :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
My sister & I love furoshiki too. So much so, that we've started designing, screenprinting & tie-dying them. Check out our little shop on www.myfuroshiki.etsy.com
ReplyDeleteHappy knotting!
thanks Anon, I'll check it out :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
Everyone interested in Furoshiki, please join my FUROSHIKI CLUB - www.furoshikiclub.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete