Kinusaiga Technique: Japanese Needleless Patchwork Art

Initially, kinusaiga arose because the Japanese were simply sorry to throw out worn out, old kimonos, which were sewn from silk, which was very expensive at that time. If the inhabitants of Japan have learned to beautifully restore broken dishes using the kintsugi technique, then what can we say about the use of multi-colored rags of silk! They received a second life in panels, on the lids of caskets, in the form of paintings and other decorative elements..

What do you need to do kinusaiga art? Today, in order to create panels, boxes and other things, not only silk is used in this technique. You can take any scraps of fabric, the main thing is that it is thin enough, stretched, and the edges are not shaggy.

In addition, the Japanese used wooden planks for kinusaiga, in which they made narrow strips up to 2 millimeters deep along the contour of the pattern with a sharp knife. Time-consuming process, we agree. Now for kinusayg you can take regular polystyrene, lightweight, affordable and perfectly cut. For the panel, you will need a foam plastic plate with a thickness of more than 1 centimeter, the dimensions must correspond to the pattern you have chosen.

So, to make a picture or decorate a box using the kinusayga technique, you will need:

1. Cloth scraps. They make such panels even from thin leather.
2. Styrofoam by painting size.
3. The image itself. Of course, if you can draw beautifully, you can depict literally anything on the foam yourself. Otherwise, you will need to transfer the selected drawing to the base using a carbon copy..
4. Fabric scissors.
5. Stationery knife.
6. A nail file, a thin wooden stick, a plastic clay knife, a toothpick – anything to help you tuck the edges of the shreds into the foam slot.

First of all, we cut out a piece of the size we need from the foam and transfer the drawing to it – ourselves or using a carbon copy. Then, along the contour of the drawing, along all the strips, we make cuts with a knife to a depth of 2-3 millimeters. Take your time so as not to miss anything.

After that, from the pieces of fabric, cut out pieces of the desired color and size to insert into the corresponding parts of the picture. Gently fill the edges of the patches with a nail file or wooden stick in the foam slot. They must hold securely, so initially the shred should be cut to a larger size than a piece of drawing.

Kinusaiga work is very meticulous, requiring perseverance, patience, because the process of creating a picture, casket or toy requires careful selection of pieces of fabric and working with it. However, having got the knack, everything can be done much faster..

By the way, to make Christmas balls, Easter eggs or other objects of various shapes, you will need to cut out of foam or find the appropriate blank. The rest of the kinusaiga technique does not change.

If you are making a panel or a kinusayga picture, do not forget to decorate the frame beautifully with fabric. The edges can be secured from the back in the same way – by inserting into the slots. But you can use the buttons, they will not be visible behind the picture.

It is easier for beginners to buy ready-made kits for creativity using the kinusayga technique. True, they are designed for one painting, and can cost 300-500 rubles, depending on the complexity and size of the work. In addition, most often ready-made sets are intended for children, the pictures will be appropriate, simple. However, you can practice on them in order to later make a real masterpiece, for example, a magnificent landscape, as the Japanese masters created.