Furoshiki

The furoshiki (風呂敷), square fabric, is used in principle to pack something in Japan for a long time.
The usual size of the furoshiki is about 68 cm x 68 cm. In furoshiki there are several sizes: small size (about 50cm x 50cm, to pack a lunch box or to decorate around your neck or your handbag), the average size (68 cm x 68 cm, to pack 2 bottles of wine, to put on a small table or to decorate your room like a small tapestry) and the large size (about 90cm x 90cm, to make a bag or to put on your sofa, etc.) ) for various uses.
Furoshiki textiles are also varied: in cotton, silk, polyester, rayon ...
The methods of dyeing furoshiki are divided into two main families: hand dyeing and printing. Hand dyeing is the traditional way that has been used for a long time, so it takes time. The hand-dyed furoshiki has the following characteristics: the colors may fade during the first wash because this method of hand dyeing is more fragile. Therefore, avoid using hot water or machine wash. On the other hand, the printing dye is a newer and modern method of its manufacture. The advantages of this method are the reduction of manufacturing time and the homogeneity of the product, because the articles are machine-made. Thanks to the manufacturing by a machine, we can now produce this type of furoshiki in larger quantities.
Generally the hand-dyed furoshiki is more expensive than the printed one.
The patterns used on the furoshiki are really various : for example the flowers of the 4 seasons in Japan (cherry, iris, campanula, camellia, etc ...), animals, birds, lucky charms, paintings drawn by known painters like Hokusai, Utamaro etc ... Especially the furoshiki painted with pretty patterns can be ideal to decorate your room or a room like the living room, as well as to put on the table (the rendering is really beautiful)!

How to use a furoshiki ? Here are some videos of presentation : example 1 example 2