What do you think?
Rate this book
Gift Wrapping with Textiles: Stylish Ideas from Japan
In Japanese culture, it is customary to put as much care into the wrapping of a gift as into choosing the gift itself. The way a gift is wrapped and the material in which it is presented are considered expressions of the giver's feeling toward the recipient. Now, using techniques that have
been part of Japanese tradition for generations, Chizuko Morita offers readers innovative and unique ideas for using the Japanese art of wrapping with cloth in very contemporary ways. In a matter of minutes, a swatch of cloth known as a furoshiki can be fashioned into an elegant wrapping for a CD, a
book, a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, even a soccer ball. And unlike paper gift wrap, if you get it wrong the first time, you can just undo the knots and start again.
Not only are the wraps fool-proof, they rely on only three basic knots.
* Stunningly original wrapping ideas
* Gift-wraps for wine, books, CDs, pictures, posters, balls, and boxed items of all sizes
* Based on techniques that have their roots in centuries-old Japanese traditions of wrapping for gift-giving
also
* Additional ideas to freshen up everyday items such as pillows, baskets, and more
* New thoughts for decorating the breakfast and dinner table
* Add an elegant touch to flowerpots, planters, or a bouquet of flowers
* Make an instant magazine "rack" or knapsack
been part of Japanese tradition for generations, Chizuko Morita offers readers innovative and unique ideas for using the Japanese art of wrapping with cloth in very contemporary ways. In a matter of minutes, a swatch of cloth known as a furoshiki can be fashioned into an elegant wrapping for a CD, a
book, a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, even a soccer ball. And unlike paper gift wrap, if you get it wrong the first time, you can just undo the knots and start again.
Not only are the wraps fool-proof, they rely on only three basic knots.
* Stunningly original wrapping ideas
* Gift-wraps for wine, books, CDs, pictures, posters, balls, and boxed items of all sizes
* Based on techniques that have their roots in centuries-old Japanese traditions of wrapping for gift-giving
also
* Additional ideas to freshen up everyday items such as pillows, baskets, and more
* New thoughts for decorating the breakfast and dinner table
* Add an elegant touch to flowerpots, planters, or a bouquet of flowers
* Make an instant magazine "rack" or knapsack
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 5, 2017
Not quite what I was expecting.
Firstly, the only fabrics used in the book are special ones that they use specifically for gift-wrapping in Japan, called furoshiki. These fabrics already have prints or designs that complement the item(s) they are meant to cover (hence if you used a printed scarf, for example, the end-result would look quite different). Also, the wrapping techniques shown in the book are only applicable to the type of material the furoshiki is made of - rayon crepe. If you were thinking of gleaning ideas for gift-wrap using other textiles such as denim, "normal" cotton, etc, then the techniques in this book would probably not apply to you, simply because the fabric wouldn't "fall" in the same way as rayon crepe would.
Secondly, I actually didn't like many of the designs shown. I found them to be quite dated, cheesy-looking (e.g. there are some "animal face" designs where you have to attach googly eyes) and just not aesthetically-pleasing in general. A lot of the designs simply involve tying knots here and there, and then pretending that the final shape looks like a "goldfish" or "rabbit" and so on. [Read: They don't.]
Also, some of the instructions were unclear. The book shows you pictures coupled with a short text description for each step, but the pictures are tiny and in black & white, so it isn't always clear what's being done, and the text is sometimes inadequate or vague.
The only part of the book I liked was the back, where the author shows how to make a "rucksack for a chair" (it's a bag you can hang onto the back of a chair for additional storage), a handbag, and a tissue box cover, using just 1 or 2 (for the rucksack) squares of fabric. Unfortunately, while these were good ideas, they have nothing to do with gift-wrap.
Firstly, the only fabrics used in the book are special ones that they use specifically for gift-wrapping in Japan, called furoshiki. These fabrics already have prints or designs that complement the item(s) they are meant to cover (hence if you used a printed scarf, for example, the end-result would look quite different). Also, the wrapping techniques shown in the book are only applicable to the type of material the furoshiki is made of - rayon crepe. If you were thinking of gleaning ideas for gift-wrap using other textiles such as denim, "normal" cotton, etc, then the techniques in this book would probably not apply to you, simply because the fabric wouldn't "fall" in the same way as rayon crepe would.
Secondly, I actually didn't like many of the designs shown. I found them to be quite dated, cheesy-looking (e.g. there are some "animal face" designs where you have to attach googly eyes) and just not aesthetically-pleasing in general. A lot of the designs simply involve tying knots here and there, and then pretending that the final shape looks like a "goldfish" or "rabbit" and so on. [Read: They don't.]
Also, some of the instructions were unclear. The book shows you pictures coupled with a short text description for each step, but the pictures are tiny and in black & white, so it isn't always clear what's being done, and the text is sometimes inadequate or vague.
The only part of the book I liked was the back, where the author shows how to make a "rucksack for a chair" (it's a bag you can hang onto the back of a chair for additional storage), a handbag, and a tissue box cover, using just 1 or 2 (for the rucksack) squares of fabric. Unfortunately, while these were good ideas, they have nothing to do with gift-wrap.
May 19, 2008
The author demonstrates wrapping a wide variety of objects using fabric squares. Although the fancier folds are probably beyond me (I can barely handle a stick-on bow), the simpler styles are both attractive and "green". It could be fun to try to match the fabric to the gift. Although I have yet to try wrapping any packages, I have it on good authority that the instructions are easy to follow.
September 6, 2008
(cross-posted from my professional blog)
Furoshikis are the Japanese squares of fabric that can be transformed into carrying bags and wraps of all kinds. I've been experimenting with them for a while, and wanted to see the full range of what was possible with a large square of fabric. Gift Wrapping With Textiles by Chizuko Morita was, unbelievably, in the local Borders. Now that I’ve had it for a few months, I feel qualified to comment.
The truth is, almost all the really useful wraps are demo’ed on YouTube or diagrammed on the Japanese Ministry of the Environment furoshiki. There are a few good additions in this book, notably a large folio carry (think framed art), the long tube wrap (think rolled posters), the kimono wine wrap (not as useful as the ordinary bottle wrap, but prettier), the basket wrap (use it to give a pot or a bowl a handle), and the backpack (uses two furoshikis, and really only good in a pinch). Everything else is either a reapplication of a basic concept or cute/pretty but not useful as such (and here my New England pragmatism peeks through). The instructions are generally good, especially the section in the beginning about the different sorts of knots and how to tie them. there are a few places where the wording is a little tricky, but nothing insurmountable.
If you’re planning to convert your life to a furoshiki-only existence, get this book. If you want a lot of instructions about decorative wraps (the title is, after all, about gift wrapping) with flowers or rabbits or kittens worked into the tying, get this book. Otherwise, see if you can get it at the library.
Furoshikis are the Japanese squares of fabric that can be transformed into carrying bags and wraps of all kinds. I've been experimenting with them for a while, and wanted to see the full range of what was possible with a large square of fabric. Gift Wrapping With Textiles by Chizuko Morita was, unbelievably, in the local Borders. Now that I’ve had it for a few months, I feel qualified to comment.
The truth is, almost all the really useful wraps are demo’ed on YouTube or diagrammed on the Japanese Ministry of the Environment furoshiki. There are a few good additions in this book, notably a large folio carry (think framed art), the long tube wrap (think rolled posters), the kimono wine wrap (not as useful as the ordinary bottle wrap, but prettier), the basket wrap (use it to give a pot or a bowl a handle), and the backpack (uses two furoshikis, and really only good in a pinch). Everything else is either a reapplication of a basic concept or cute/pretty but not useful as such (and here my New England pragmatism peeks through). The instructions are generally good, especially the section in the beginning about the different sorts of knots and how to tie them. there are a few places where the wording is a little tricky, but nothing insurmountable.
If you’re planning to convert your life to a furoshiki-only existence, get this book. If you want a lot of instructions about decorative wraps (the title is, after all, about gift wrapping) with flowers or rabbits or kittens worked into the tying, get this book. Otherwise, see if you can get it at the library.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews