Japanese Kimekomi: Fast, Fun, and Fabulous Fabric Handballs!

by Barbara B. Suess, Kathleen M. Hewitt

The elegant and easy Japanese craft of kimekomi—making fabric handballs—is presented in this collection of 15 bright and colorful designs. Featuring full-size cutting templates, each design is accompanied by color step-by-step drawings, sensational photos, and easy-to-follow text. Although each project requires additional materials—such as a Styrofoam ball, a variety of colored fabric scraps, glue, and pretty ribbons or cords for embellishment—the fun, simple process assures that the first ball will be complete in just a couple of hours. Once the basics have been covered, a special section on creating and customizing new designs will allow crafters to branch out on their own to create ornaments and gifts for all occasions.

Genres: Crafts

96 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

Barbara B. Suess discovered temari in the late 1980s while living in Yokohama, Japan, where she shared her love of quilting, sewing, and embroidery. A self-taught expert, she writes patterns, teaches classes, and creates temari-inspired jewelry. In 2015, she earned Kyoujyu (Master, Level 4) certification from the Japan Temari Association.

Reviews

[Erin Penn]

A quick how-to make quilt-balls without any sewing. In the Temari family, which Ms. Suess writes on as well, this newer craft provides other play:toys or display:objects of equal beauty for those whose love is fabric more than thread.

This is a beginner book starting with Styrofoam balls where one etches or groves in the pattern the fabric "quilt" will be applied. The only downside of the book, losing it one star, is the etching and attaching is given half of a single page. I would have like to seen how to cut with an exacto-knife and how to melt groves with another tool. Also having a page devoted to tucking in the fabric pieces - techniques and tools - would have been helpful as this is a beginner book.

Other than techniques which can be picked up in minutes by any regular crafter being slightly less than I would have lacked, the rest of the book is a beautiful presentation of dozens of quilt balls. Quick to create, easy to learn the basics, great patterns to use. The perfect crafting book.

[Laurla2]

-5 stars. i came across kimekomi balls on pinterest and was very interested. i watched a couple videos on how to do it, and put the book on hold at the library.
i would like to purchase this book with all its patterns and templates and pictures.

-satin rattail cord - rayon cotton blend. recommends la stella celeste (satincord.com)
-glue stick for attaching batting to ball
-fabric or craft glue with a very fine tip on the bottle for gluing the trim to the ball. recommends adhesive tech brand or a fine line brand.
-fine tip marker or pencil for marking the pattern on the ball, use white-out for mistakes
-suggests a hot knife for cutting the ball. i have a woodburning tool, i need to check if it has an available blade tip in the kit. otherwise an xacto knife is fine.
-smooth styrofoam balls, expanded polystyrene (EPS). recommends plasteel brand (plasteelcorp.com).
-queens cup ball pattern is the one i saw on pinterest that appealed to me the most.

[Susanb]

I saw these balls made up in a quilt shop and would like to make some. Ran right out and bought the how-to book.

Looks like a good book on how to make these decorative balls.