Any simple picture can become a kinusaiga pattern. The aim is not to copy every detail, but to reduce the picture to shapes that fabric can cover. Our free kinusaiga pattern maker does this in your browser.
Choose the right picture
The best pictures have one clear subject, strong shapes and few colours. Landscapes, flowers, animals and bold graphics usually work well. Fine hair, small text and busy backgrounds lose detail.
Only use pictures you made, own or have permission to use. See our picture policy.
Set your board size
Enter the width and height of your board in centimetres. If the picture has a different shape, the tool crops it from the centre, so check that the subject is still in view.
Board size matters more than you might expect. The same picture gives more detail on a large board, because a 5 mm shape stays 5 mm wide whatever the size of the board.
Pick colours and detail
- Colours: Start with 4 to 6. Each colour is one fabric, so more colours mean more shopping or scrap sorting.
- Detail: Simple keeps shapes at least about 12 mm wide. Medium uses about 8 mm. Detailed goes down to about 5 mm, which is the narrow end of what can be tucked.
If the piece count is high, reduce the colours or choose a simpler setting. A first project is easier with fewer than 15 pieces.
How the tool builds the template
- It reduces the picture to the number of colours you chose.
- It removes noise and shapes too narrow to tuck.
- It merges tiny pieces into their closest neighbour.
- It divides any piece that fully surrounds another, so there are no islands.
- It smooths the outlines and numbers the pieces from largest to smallest.
The number shows the order and the letter shows the colour, so 12B is piece 12 in Colour B.
Print and use your PDF
The PDF contains a fabric list, a numbered map and full-size pages. Print the full-size pages at 100%, and measure the 5 cm test square before cutting. Large boards split over several sheets, with an overlap to help you join them.
Then follow our guide to how to make kinusaiga.