I wanted to share the supply list for a fun and relaxing project with you today. Have you ever heard of Kinusaiga? It is a traditional Japanese craft where you create pictures by tucking fabric into a grooved base. It is pure fabric play without any sewing, and the best part is you probably have a lot of the supplies already.
It is the perfect project when you want to slow down, use up some of your favorite fabric scraps, and just enjoy the process of making something by hand. It is very forgiving and a wonderful way to step away from screens for a bit. You can use a quilt block design, but simple landscape images are also very popular for this technique.
Peel one side of your double-sided adhesive sheet and stick it firmly to the top of your foam board. Do not peel the top backing off yet. This keeps the sticky layer protected while you work.
Secure your pattern
Place your printed paper design directly on top of the adhesive backing. Use a little bit of tape around the outer edges to secure the paper down so it cannot shift around while you cut.
Score the design and remove the paper
Take your craft knife and carefully trace over the lines of your design, cutting through the paper, through the adhesive layer, and about 1/4″ down into the foam board. As you complete a section or shape, you can gently pull that piece of paper away.
Reveal the sticky shape and apply fabric
Once the paper is removed, you will be left with the scored adhesive backing on the board. Use the tip of your seam ripper or tool to peel away the backing paper from just one specific shape at a time. This reveals the sticky adhesive underneath. Cut a piece of fabric slightly larger than the shape, place it down, and press it firmly against the sticky foam.
Tuck the edges
Take your tucking tool and gently push the edges of the fabric down into the scored grooves all around the shape. The adhesive holds the center perfectly flat while you tuck the borders. Repeat this process shape by shape, peeling the backing, sticking the fabric, and tucking the edges until your whole picture is complete.
You can find a reel of the process on my instagram, and I’ll post a video tutorial here soon.
I hope you give this a try. It is a wonderful way to play with color and texture, and it is so satisfying to watch the design come together. Let me know if you make one, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions along the way.
