Quick kinusaiga supplies checklist
| Supply | Essential? | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Foam board | Yes | Rigid XPS foam, 1/2" (12 mm) thick, or dense foam core |
| Fabric | Yes | Tightly woven quilting cotton, scraps or fat quarters |
| Craft knife + blades | Yes | Precision knife with #11 blades; change blades often |
| Cutting mat | Yes | Self-healing mat, at least 12" × 12" |
| Small scissors | Yes | Sharp fabric scissors or embroidery snips |
| Tucking tool | Yes | Butter knife, seam ripper, bone folder or palette knife |
| Double-sided adhesive sheet | Recommended | Acid-free, permanent, sized to your board |
| Metal ruler, masking tape | Recommended | For straight cuts and holding the pattern |
| Frame or shadow box | Optional | Deep enough for the foam thickness |
Need a pattern? Choose from the free pattern library or use your own photo.
1. Foam board
The board is the most important supply. It must be firm enough to grip fabric, smooth enough to cut cleanly, and thick enough for grooves. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam — the dense pink or blue insulation board sold at hardware stores, also sold in craft-size sheets — is the favorite. Read the full foam comparison.
XPS foam board
Dense, smooth and closed-cell. Holds tucked fabric tightly and cuts cleanly.
Check prices on Amazon ↗Thick foam core board
Paper-faced and easy to find. Choose 1/2" or the densest board available.
Check prices on Amazon ↗2. Fabric
Choose tightly woven 100% cotton — quilting cotton, fat quarters, charm packs and precut bundles are ideal because they are thin, don’t stretch and fray very little. Small prints add texture without extra pieces. Traditional kinusaiga uses silk, which looks luxurious but is slippery for a first project.
Fat quarter bundle
A coordinated set of cotton prints — the easiest way to get enough colors.
Check prices on Amazon ↗Charm pack (5" squares)
Lots of small squares in matching colors; great for small pieces.
Check prices on Amazon ↗3. Cutting tools
A precision craft knife with #11 blades is all you need to score the grooves. A dull blade tears foam, so buy spare blades. Use a self-healing cutting mat underneath and a metal ruler for straight lines. Small sharp scissors cut the fabric pieces.
Precision craft knife + blades
A #11 blade gives clean, controllable cuts in foam.
Check prices on Amazon ↗Self-healing cutting mat
Protects your table and keeps blades sharp longer.
Check prices on Amazon ↗4. Tucking tools
The tucking tool pushes fabric into the grooves. It should be thin, smooth and blunt. A butter knife works for big pieces; for fine work many makers prefer the blunt side of a seam ripper, a bone folder, a palette knife, a ball-end modeling tool or a dedicated kinusaiga spatula.
Ball stylus / modeling tool set
Several tip sizes for tight corners and small pieces.
Check prices on Amazon ↗5. Double-sided adhesive
Not required, but highly recommended: a double-sided adhesive sheet on the board surface keeps every piece flat and stops fabric from shifting while you tuck. See our guide to double-sided adhesive sheets for kinusaiga.
6. Framing
A finished kinusaiga piece is about as thick as your foam, so use a shadow box or a deep picture frame without the glass pressing on the fabric. Square 8" × 8" shadow boxes fit most of our patterns printed at 7–8 inches.
8 × 8 in shadow box
Deep enough for 1/2" foam, ideal for 7–8 inch patterns.
Check prices on Amazon ↗Kinusaiga supplies at Michaels
Michaels is a convenient one-stop shop for most kinusaiga supplies in the US and Canada (stock and brands vary by store):
- Foam board — look for the thickest, densest board in the poster-board aisle
- Craft knife and spare blades, a cutting mat and a metal ruler
- Double-sided adhesive sheets or mounting film in the scrapbooking aisle
- Fabric or fat quarters, where available, and small sharp scissors
- Shadow box frames in the framing department
Prefer everything in one box? Compare kinusaiga kits — they include pre-scored boards and matched fabric.
Kinusaiga supplies FAQ
Can I buy kinusaiga supplies at Michaels?
Yes, most of the basics: foam board, craft knives, cutting mats, scissors, adhesive sheets and frames. Stock varies by store, so check availability online before you go.
Can I use Dollar Tree foam board for kinusaiga?
For practice, yes. Thin paper-faced foam board holds fabric less firmly and tears easily, so for a piece you want to keep, use 1/2" XPS foam or a thick, dense foam core.
What fabric is best for kinusaiga?
Tightly woven 100% quilting cotton is the easiest. Silk is traditional and beautiful but slippery. Avoid stretchy knits, thick wool and loosely woven fabric that frays.
How much does it cost to start kinusaiga?
Usually $15–$30 for a first piece if you use fabric scraps: foam, a craft knife with spare blades and a cheap frame. A beginner kit costs a similar amount and includes everything.