Book Review: Japanese Kimekomi by Suess & Hewitt
Edited and updated from the original January 2010 post.
If you are new to the craft of kimekomi, this is the book for you. The easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions are perfect for beginners. The book includes a short history of kimekomi, a complete list of supplies needed with specific recommendations, basic instructions, and 16 designs plus one or two variations on each design that you can recreate yourself. The instructions are straightforward and include useful illustrations to aid in the reader's understanding. The templates in the back of the book are easily photocopied to be used for drawing the design on the ball and for use as batting and fabric-cutting patterns.
I learned so much from this book when I was a beginner, and I especially liked that each design came with several variations. However, as my skills progressed, I no longer wanted to rely on the templates provided. I wanted to know how to draw the designs from scratch with only a measuring tape and a little math to guide me.
Therefore, if you are already well-versed in the art of kimekomi, this book may not be for you. That being said, after nine years, I still use it as a technical reference and for design inspiration.
Find it now on Amazon.
