Furoshiki: How to Fabric Wrap Planters

Furoshiki is a Japanese method of cloth wrapping. Traditionally, it was used to wrap bathing accessories in a towel but now can be found as a way to wrap or carry all types of things.

More recently, I’ve seen this style popping up all over Pinterest as a way to gift-wrap. I love this idea as it’s more sustainable than using disposable wrapping paper, but the opportunities with it as just as endless. It also makes gift giving just that bit more special, too!

Inspired by Furoshiki, I tried my hand at a couple of different ways to wrap up pots and planters. It’s a great, sustainable way to gift a plant while allowing the receiver to choose their own pot (very personal thing! haha) while covering the ugly plastic pots that plants often come in. Read on for how to fabric wrap planters – two ways!

Furoshiki: How to Fabric-Wrap Planters (two ways!)

You will Need:

-Fabric, such as cloth napkins, scarves or spare material
-Sewing pins or safety pins

To make these fabric-wrap planters, you’ll need square pieces of fabric. As a rough idea, the length of one edge of fabric should be around 1-1.5 times the circumference of the pot to be covered. This will make sure the fabric is big enough to cover the pot and be tied easily.

Scarves, handkerchiefs and cloth napkins all make for easy pieces to use. If you have scrap fabric on hand you can use that too. I would say it’s better to use materials with no stretch in them.

Seeing as it can be tricky to follow directions like these, I’ve added some images of the steps and also a video to help you understand how to wrap the pots. There’s only a few steps involved, so once you pick it up it’ll be no problem!

Front-Knotted Fabric Wrap Planter:

Start by laying out your square piece of material on a flat surface. Then take two opposite corners and fold them into the middle of the square.

Take your plant and sit it in the middle of the square, on top of the folded corners. Fold up the shorter sides around the pot, to make sure the sit just high enough to cover it. If they don’t, remove the pot and widen the folds until the dimensions are just right.

Fold up the shorter sides of the fabric around the pot, then bring the two outer corners of material around to the front of the pot. Make sure the fabric stays firm around the pot by tucking it in tight.

Tie a double knot with the two fabric corners at the front of the pot. You should have just enough fabric to do this neatly. Tidy any messy parts of the fabric, and you’re done!

Top-Knotted Fabric Wrap Planter:

For this style, you’ll need a slightly larger piece of fabric. It will need to be tied further above the pot while still giving room for the plant below.

Start by folding opposite corners of the fabric into the middle, just like the last planter. If the fabric needs to be folded in a way it overlaps to meet the middle, that’s fine.

Fold the shorter edges up to ensure they just cover the pot, the same as the last method.

Then, use a pin to pin the fabric up around the pot on either side. It should be tight enough that the fabric is neat and doesn’t fall off the pot.

Take either corner of the remaining fabric and bring it upwards, ensuring that any excess it neatly folded in.

Tie a double knot at the top. You’re top-knotted planter is complete!

This method of fabric wrapping planters can be mixed up depending on the colours, patterns and styles of fabric you use. It’s easy enough to create a bunch of them as favours or think of the receiver with a personalised fabric.

You could even make your own fabric using dyes or patterns!

For another great plant-inspired DIY, check out these heart-shaped planters.