Furoshiki 0: Have Bed Sheet Will Travel

Furoshiki is a Japanese method of tying a piece of cloth into a wrapping or in this case a kickin' bag. This one is a lot bigger than most you'd need but the purse I made my wife out of a 3 foot by 3 foot sheet of scrap cloth I got from the store got me thinking how big these things can get. So, I grabbed an old bed sheet and cut it up and hemmed it to be about 7 feet on a side and made this beast. I wonder how that 'stop-rip' stuff the military uses to make uniforms would do.


Ok, I'd explain more about the history of the Furoshiki method but I'll let Furoshiki.com do it.



Furoshiki is a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that was frequently used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods. Although possibly dating back as far as the Nara period, the name, meaning "bath spread", derives from the Edo period practice of using them to bundle clothes while at the sento (public baths). Before becoming associated with public baths, furoshiki was known as hiradzutsumi, or flat folded bundle. Eventually, the furoshiki's usage extended to serve as a means for merchants to transport their wares or to protect and decorate a gift.

Since bed sheets aren't square, I had to do some adjusting. I cut it 0.5 inches long to accommodate the hem I would put in later. I made a mark about every two feet so I could make the line as straight as possible.

I didn't get any pics of this step but you get the idea. Fold over the cut edge twice and run it through a sewing machine to get a nice clean edge.

1. Fold it into a triangle (the more square the original sheet the better the triangle will come out).
2. This is kind of tricky but you'll want to take the bottom corners and bend them up towards the top of the triangle while kind of gathering the material up into a "rope" so you can tie a knot in it. Don't take all the way up to the top but just short of it.
3. Now do the same to the other side. It'll look like this.
4. The tails will be about the length.

What you'll want to do is tuck the tails and knots into the inside of the bag. First turn it inside out by doing this.

1. Take the top layer and peel it back then flip the whole thing over.
2. Flip the knots and tails into the center and pick up by the top and bottom corners and shake it side to side.

hmmm...how about all these pillows?

Secure your stash (minus the dog).
1. Gather up the ends like this...
2. Tie them in a quick overhand knot.
3. And cinch down tight.
4. Then tie a square-knot at the very ends of the tails so it looks like this.
5. Then sling it over your shoulder and head on out there.

Just undo the knots and fold it up.