About Kinusaiga.org

An independent resource

Kinusaiga (絹彩画) was developed in 1987 by the Japanese artist Maeno Setsu (前野節), who adapted kimekomi, the Edo-period technique of dressing dolls by tucking fabric into grooves, to pictures made with silk. All credit for the art form goes to the artist.

Kinusaiga.org is not affiliated with Maeno Setsu, and does not speak for the artist. We are a separate, independent site for the many people around the world who have discovered the foam-board version of the craft and want good patterns and clear instructions. We try to tell the history accurately, credit its creator, and avoid the “ancient tradition” myths that often come with it. (The story is in what is kinusaiga? and kinusaiga vs kimekomi.)

What we make

Free patterns, drawn for real foam. A picture that looks good on screen is not always a picture you can tuck. Every pattern on this site is designed around the limits of a foam board and a piece of cotton:

• A minimum piece size. On an 8 in board, no shape is narrower than about 3/16 in (5 mm) or smaller than about a 3/8 in (1 cm) square, so every piece can actually be tucked.
• No slivers. Thin strips and tiny fragments are merged into their neighbours before a pattern is published.
• True-scale PDFs. Cut maps for 8, 6 and 5 inch boards, in US Letter and A4, with a 1 in and a 25 mm square to check your printer. Plus an SVG cut map for any other size or for cutting machines.
• A numbered colour guide with a fabric list, so you know what to buy or pull from your stash before you start.

Practical guides. From the step-by-step method to supplies, foam, fabric and framing. We don't publish fake reviews or rankings of products we haven't tested, and we say so when something is uncertain.

Using our patterns

• Free for personal use. Download, print and make as many pieces as you like. No account, no email address.
• You can sell what you make. Finished pieces you make by hand from our patterns are yours to give or sell, at a craft fair or online.
• Please don't redistribute the files. Don't sell, share or re-upload the PDFs or cut maps, or include them in kits or pattern books. Linking to a pattern page is always welcome.
• Teaching a class? Teachers, libraries and quilt shops running a workshop can write to us; we are happy to help.

Contact

Questions, pattern requests, corrections, or a photo of something you made: write to hello@kinusaiga.org. We read everything, and the most requested subjects become the next patterns. For quick answers, see the FAQ; for what we do (and don't do) with data, see the privacy page.