Tag: ken-tsumami

Making Asagao (Japanese Morning Glory) with Tsumami-zaiku

Published on by Haruka WilleyLeave a comment

You can find Asagao, the Japanese morning glory, in almost all colors, but it is usually blue, purple, or pink. So today I would like to make a simple blue Asagao tsumami zaiku flower with white stripes.

You’ll be learning new techniques this time! The first is making a corn-shaped base, and the next is turning petals inside out. They may be a little bit hard at first, but don’t worry! You can do it!

You will need:

  • five 1.5 (3.8 cm) inch blue cloth squares 
  • five 1 (2.5 cm) inch white cloth squares 
  • one 1 (2.5 cm) inch round thick paper disc
  • one 1.5 (3.8 cm) inch white cloth square 
  • decorations for the center (see my examples!)
  • glue
  • tweezers
  • wet towel to clean your finger

How to make:

1.Make a base.

a. Slit the paper disc halfway and glue about ¼ of it.

b. Put some glue on the convex side and put 1.5 inch white cloth on.

c. Cut off the excess cloth and glue the cloth inside (concave side).

2. Make 5 petals with blue cloths using Maru-tsumami.

3. Make 5 petals with white cloths using Ken-tsumami.

4. Cut the bottom parts of white petals.

5. Turn the blue petals inside out.

6. Put glue on the disc and place your blue petals evenly.

7. Put some glue on the bottom of your white petals and place them between the blue petals.

8. Put some glue on the sides of blue petals and glue them together with the white petals between each other.

9. Let the glue dry.

10. Put some decorations on the center if you like.

11. Done!

Bonus: Making a Asagao leaf

You will need:

  • one 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) green cloth square
  • two 1 inch (2.5 cm) green cloth squares
  • glue
  • tweezers
  • wet towel to clean your finger

How to make:

1.Make Maru-tsumami with the 1.5 and 1 inch cloths.

2. Put some glue on the side of the peak of the 1.5 inch Maru-tsumami and stick 1 inch Maru-tsumami on each side.

3. Let the glue dry.

4. Done!

Making Hanabi-like Flowers “Chrysanthemums” with Tsumami-zaiku

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In my last post I wrote about how Japanese hanabi (fireworks) are often described as chrysanthemums and peonies. So today I would like to show you how to use a chrysanthemum and peony pattern to make hanabi-like flowers. I love traditional orange and yellow Japanese hanabi, so I’m going to use those colors. But I think you should use whatever your favorites are. (Also, using 2 or 3 colors makes hanabi flowers beautiful!)

Chrysanthemums

Photo by Bud Jenkins on Pexels.com

You will need:

  • ten 0.75 inch (1.9 cm) yellow square cloths
  • ten 1 inch (2.5 cm) white square cloths
  • ten 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) orange square cloths
  • one 1 inch round thick paper disc
  • glue
  • tweezers
  • wet towels to clean your finger

How to make:

1. Make 10 petals of each size of cloth with Ken-tsumami.

2. Put glue on the paper disc and glue on the 0.75 inch square cloth petals evenly.

3. Put the 1 inch petals between the 0.75 inch petals.

4. Put some glue on the 1.5 inch petals’ peak side and slide them between the 1 inch petals.

5. Reshape the flower before the glue dries completely.

6. Let glue dry.

7. Put some decorations with glue on the center.

8. Done!

How to Make a Twofold Ken-tsumami

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Last time, we used a twofold Maru-tsumami to make a Japanese plum flower. Today, I’ll show you how to make a twofold Ken-tsumami. Actually, I think this is the easier of the two. I recommend using a thinner fabric for practice until you get used to it. 

You will need:

  • one 1 inch square cloth (orange)
  • one 1 inch square cloth (yellow)
  • glue
  • tweezers (You don’t need tweezers, but it’s much easier with them)
  • wet paper towels for cleaning your fingers

Instructions:

1.Make a single Ken-tsumami with an orange cloth. (“How to make a Ken-tsumami” is here.)

2. Fold a yellow cloth twice like the picture to make a ¼ size triangle.

3.Put the orange Ken-tsumami you made on the yellow ¼ size triangle.

4. Fold the yellow ¼ size triangle in half and sandwich the orange Ken-tsumami inside.

5. Glue the bottom part and let it dry.

6. Done!

Making a snowflake ornament with Ken-tsumami vol.2

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Creates about 3.5 inch (9cm) snowflake

Last time, I made a 2.5 inch (6cm) snowflake ornament. This time, I’m going to share a bigger sized snowflake ornament with the same shape. The way you make it is almost the same. I added one more color to the snowflake, and the cloth sizes are bigger.

You’ll need:

  • six 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) white cloth squares – (A)
  • twelve 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) green cloth squares – (B)
  • six 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) blue cloth squares – (C)
  • six 2 inch (5 cm) white cloth squares – (D)
  • one 3 inch (7.5 cm) white cloth square
  • decorations for the center of the flower (I use beads and craft flower stamens)
  • one 1 inch (2.5 cm) round paper disc (thick paper is better. I use a carton board I cut from things like cereal boxes)
  • one 1.5 inch (3.8cm) round paper disc (thick paper is better)
  • one 8 inch (20 cm) ribbon or string
  • glue
  • tweezers (You don’t need tweezers, but it’s much easier with them)
  • wet paper towels for cleaning your fingers

Instructions:

1. Make 6 white parts with (A), 12 green parts with (B), 6 blue parts with (C) and 6 white parts with (D) with the “Ken-tsumami” method.

2. Put glue on your 1 inch (2.5 cm) paper disc and place your (D) parts uniformly around the center.

(Hint: draw lines on your disc so you know where to place your petals.)

3. Before the glue gets completely dry, place your (C) parts between the (D) parts. You might need to put some glue on the bottom of (C) parts if the glue on your disc gets dry.

4. Reshape it before the glue dries. (Because they may move around in the wet glue.)

5. Put glue over half of the bottom of your (B) parts, and place them on your paper disc between each (C) and (D) parts.

6. Put a little glue between the bottom of the (B) parts you just glued, and put them together by squeezing them a little.

7. Put glue on 1/3 of the bottom on your (A) parts and place them between the (B) parts you just squeezed.

8. Make a board for the back side. Put glue on your 1.5 inch (3.8cm) paper disc and place it on the center of your 3 inch (7.5 cm) white cloth square with glue side down.

9. Cut off the corner of the cloth so it becomes round, put glue on the cloth, and wrap it around the paper disc.

10. Fold your ribbon (or string) in half. Place its ends on the center of the board you just made and glue it.

11. Put more glue on the board to glue it on the back of your snowflake. You need to decide which side is up before you glue, so be careful!

12. Finally, put glue on the center of your snowflake and place it on your decoration.

13. Congratulations!!! Done!

This time, I made a 3.5 inch (9cm) snowflake ornament, but if you change the sizes of clothes, you can make it bigger or smaller. You can also make it into a pin or a hair ornament by using a pin or a clip instead of a ribbon or string. Enjoy your creation!

bigger snowflake: 3.5 inch (9 cm)

smaller snowflake: 2.5 inch (6 cm)

Making a snowflake ornament with Ken-tsumami

Published on by Haruka WilleyLeave a comment

Creates about 2.5 inch (6cm) snowflake

Christmas is coming! This time, I’m going to share how to make a snowflake ornament with Tsumami-zaiku. You need to make lots of parts this time, but the basic method is always the same, so don’t worry! You can do it!

You’ll need:

  • eighteen 1 inch (2.5 cm) white cloth squares – (A)
  • six 1 inch (2.5 cm) blue cloth squares – (B)
  • six 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) white cloth squares – (C)
  • one 2 inch (5 cm) white cloth square
  • decorations for the center of the flower (I use beads and craft flower stamens)
  • one 1 inch (2.5 cm) round paper disc (thick paper is better. I use a carton board I cut from things like cereal boxes)
  • one 1.2 inch (3cm) round paper disc (thick paper is better)
  • one 8 inch (20 cm) ribbon or string
  • glue
  • tweezers (You don’t need tweezers, but it’s much easier with them)
  • wet paper towels for cleaning your fingers

Instructions:

1. Make 18 white parts with (A), 6 blue parts with (B) and 6 white parts with (C) with the “Ken-tsumami” method. (“How to make Ken-tsumami” link here.)

2. Put glue on your 1 inch (2.5 cm) paper disc and place your (C) parts uniformly around the center.

(Hint: draw lines on your disc so you know where to place your petals.)

3. Before the glue gets completely dry, place your (B) parts between the (C) parts. You might need to put some glue on the bottom of (B) parts if the glue on your disc gets dry.

4. Reshape it before the glue dries. (Because they may move around in the wet glue.)

5. Put glue over half of the bottom of your (A) parts, and place them on your paper disc between each (B) and (C) parts. You should have 6 (A) parts left.

6. Put a little glue between the bottom of the (A) parts you just glued, and put them together by squeezing them a little.

7. Put glue on 1/3 of the bottom on your left (A) parts and place them between the (A) parts you just squeezed.

8. Make a board for the back side. Put glue on your 1.2 inch (3cm) paper disc and place it on the center of your 2 inch (5 cm) white cloth square with glue side down.

9. Cut off the corner of the cloth so it becomes round, put glue on the cloth, and wrap it around the paper disc.

10. Fold your ribbon (or string) in half. Place its ends on the center of the board you just made and glue it.

11. Put more glue on the board to glue it on the back of your snowflake. You need to decide which side is up before you glue, so be careful!

12. Finally, put glue on the center of your snowflake and place it on your decoration.

13. Congratulations!!! Done!

This time, I made a 2.5 inch (6cm) snowflake ornament, but if you change the sizes of clothes, you can make it bigger or smaller. You can also make it into a pin or a hair ornament by using a pin or a clip instead of a ribbon or string. Once I make a bigger snowflake ornament for my own Christmas tree, and I’ll share the plans with everyone! See you then!

Making a Simple 10 Petal Flower with Maru-tsumami.

Published on by Haruka WilleyLeave a comment

Creates about a 1 ¼ inch (3 cm) flower

You need:

  • 10 1 inch (2.5 cm) cloth squares
  • decoration for the center of the flower (I use beads and craft flower stamens)
  • 1 ¾ inch (2 cm) round paper disc (thick paper is better. I use a carton board I cut from things like cereal boxes)
  • glue
  • tweezers (You don’t need tweezers, but it’s much easier with them)
  • wet paper towels for cleaning your fingers

How to make:

  1. Make 10 petals with Maru-tsumami.

“How to make Maru-tsumami” link here.

2. Put glue on your paper disc and place your petals uniformly around the center.

Hint: Draw lines on your disc so you know where to place your petals.

3. Reshape the flower before the glue dries.

Because they may move around in the wet glue.

4. Let the glue dry completely.

5. Put glue on the center of your flower and place your decoration.

6. Let the glue dry.

7. Done!

You can also make your flower with Ken-tsumami. (“How to make Ken-tsumami” link here.) A combination of both methods is beautiful too! Enjoy making your own original flowers with Tsumami-zaiku!

How to Make “Ken-tsumami”

Published on by Haruka WilleyLeave a comment

You will need 

  • square cloths (1.5 inch squares are easy to start.)
  • glue ( I use Aleene’s “Fast Grab Tacky Glue,” but you can use any glue that works for fabric )
  • tweezer (you don’t need them, but they make things a lot easier. )
  • wet tissue (for cleaning your fingers after using the glue)

Making “Ken-tsumami”

  1. First, make a triangle by folding a square cloth half.

2. Next, fold it in half again to make a smaller triangle.

3. Fold it half again to make an even smaller triangle.

4. Glue at the bottom.

5. Wait until the glue dries enough. (It doesn’t need to be completely dry, just enough to keep its shape.)

6. Shape the petal.

7. Extra! This depends on what kind of flower you are making, but you can open up the bottom part to make a petal wide.

8. Now, just repeat the steps until you make as many petals as you need for your flower. 

Now that your petals are ready, you’re ready to make beautiful tsumami-zaiku!