5 video modules/Printable 9" template/Lifetime access/Instant access

It looks like a painting. It's actually fabric.

Kinusaiga (kee-noo-SYE-gah) is a Japanese fabric art with no sewing, no drawing, and no paint. Learn it in one afternoon and finish with a framed 9" x 9" landscape ready to hang on your wall.

Hannah Austin, fiber artist
Taught by Hannah Austin, award-winning fiber artist 200,000 makers follow her fabric art on Instagram

Even if you've never considered yourself an artist. Supplies run about $25 to $40, mostly from the hardware and craft store.

The art form

A Japanese art most people have never heard of

From across the room it reads as a painting. The sky has a gradient. The mountains recede into haze. The meadow looks like it runs back a mile.

Walk up to it and the surface is quilted. Every color in the picture is a piece of cloth.

Side by side comparison showing the same kinusaiga landscape at a distance, where it reads as a painting, and up close, where the quilted fabric surface is visible

That is kinusaiga. Japanese artist Setsu Maeno created it in the 1980s, building on the centuries-old kimekomi tradition of tucking fabric into carved grooves. Hannah credits Maeno in the very first video of the course, and what she teaches is the process she has worked out over her own years of practice.

Nothing is drawn and nothing is painted. You carve shallow grooves into a foam board, following a printed template. You lay a piece of fabric over each section and press the raw edges down into the grooves with the back of a seam ripper. The edge vanishes. The fabric pillows up like a tiny quilt. Section by section, the picture appears.

The painted look comes from the cloth itself. A striated batik already has the gradient dyed into it, so a single piece of fabric does the work a painter would need a loaded brush and a very steady hand for. Choosing the fabric is the artistic act. Tucking it in is the easy part.

The piece you'll build

A kinusaiga fabric landscape of a sunrise over the Cascade mountains with a wildflower meadow, made entirely from quilting cotton tucked into a carved foam board

Hannah's Sunrise Over the Cascades, framed and finished. This is the exact landscape you build in the workshop.

No two are alike

Every kinusaiga piece is unrepeatable

These two came off the same template. The only thing that changed was the cloth: deep berry batiks and dusky florals on the left, bright sunrise golds on the right.

Two kinusaiga landscapes built from the same template, one in deep berry and dusky floral fabrics, the other in bright sunrise golds

Fabric is the pigment in this art form, and no two people reach for the same fabric. Choose a stormy blue sky instead of a golden one and you have made a piece nobody else on earth has made. There is no color theory to get wrong here. In Hannah's words: flowers don't look around themselves to see if they match. Pick what you love and the piece works.

Meet your instructor

Hannah Austin

Needle OR Thread, in partnership with One Craft at a Time

  • Mayor's Choice and People's Choice winner, 2023 Eugene Mayor's Art Show
  • Teaches in-person classes at the University of Oregon's Craft Center
  • Her free beginner kinusaiga tutorial has been watched nearly 100,000 times
  • Her one-of-a-kind originals sell for thousands of dollars

Hi, I'm Hannah, and I'm so glad you're here! I'm the sole artist behind Needle OR Thread. I've run my own art business for seven years, and I've been practicing kinusaiga since 2022.

Kinusaiga was created by Japanese artisan Setsu Maeno, and I teach it with deep respect for where it comes from. You'll hear me credit Maeno in the very first video. The process I share is my own, built through years of exploration: my method, my tips and tricks, and a lot about my own process.

If you're worried you're not "artistic," hear me out. The fabric brings the color, the texture, and the pattern. Your job is to choose what you love and tuck it into place, and choosing what you love is a skill you already have. What surprises people most is how early the picture starts to appear. You're maybe four sections in and there it is, a sky.

Hannah Austin holding two of her finished kinusaiga fabric landscapes

What's inside

Five hands-on modules

Plus Hannah's welcome video and her printable 9" x 9" template. The template tells you where every line goes, so you never draw anything freehand.

Kinusaiga materials laid out: foam board, precision knife, seam ripper, scissors and fabric

Module 01

Materials, Board Prep, and Your Template

Everything you need and how to set it all up. By the end of this module your board is cut, prepped, and ready to carve.

  • The one-inch insulation foam board Hannah uses, where to find it at the hardware store, and the score-and-snap trick that cuts it perfectly to size
  • Her toolkit, laid out simply: a precision knife, sharp scissors, double-sided adhesive sheets, and the couple-dollar seam ripper that does all the tucking
  • Which fabrics make each section shine: batiks for the glowing sky and mountains, printed florals for the meadow, and how much of each you need
  • How to mount your printed template so every line stays put while you carve
Practicing kinusaiga cutting and tucking technique on a scrap foam board

Module 02

Practice the Technique Before the Real Board

You learn every skill on a scrap board first: cutting, tucking, corners, curves, and edges. By the time you touch your real piece, your hands already know the moves.

  • The slow sawing cut that gives you clean, controlled grooves, and why dragging the blade through a dense spot of foam is how lines wander and fingers get nicked
  • Hannah's pinch-and-slide tucking method that makes every raw edge disappear into the board
  • How to handle corners, curves, and the outside edges of your board, and why the sides don't need to be perfect once it's framed
  • Simple rescues for every common mistake: bunching fabric, ripples, lifted adhesive, and fraying edges
Planning fabric choices for the sky, mountains and meadow sections

Module 03

Plan Your Fabric Like an Artist

Choosing fabric is the longest, most personal part of the process, and this module is Hannah sitting with you while you do it: sky, mountains, and meadow, section by section.

  • Why batiks make the sky glow, and the difference between mottled and striated batiks so you get the effect you want
  • The light-to-dark mountain layering that creates depth, and Hannah's forced-perspective trick for making the far peaks feel distant
  • How print size fakes distance: tiny florals in back, big blooms in front, and suddenly your meadow looks a mile deep
  • Why Hannah skips color theory entirely (in her words: flowers don't look around themselves to see if they match) and what she does instead
Building the sunrise sky sections from striated batik fabric

Module 04

Build the Sunrise Sky

The sky is two-thirds of this piece, and it's where the striated batiks read as brushstrokes. Hannah cuts and tucks all nine sky sections on camera, from the center glow outward, and you build yours right alongside her.

  • Why Hannah starts at the center of the sky, the focal point that guides the direction and colors of every section around it
  • How to cut through the paper template cleanly so every groove lands exactly on the line
  • The gentle-pressure technique for the narrow rays near the center, where the foam is most delicate
  • How Hannah keeps her grooves nearly invisible, the detail that gives kinusaiga its quilted, painted-with-fabric texture
Carving the mountain ridgeline and filling the wildflower meadow with floral prints

Module 05

Mountains and the Wildflower Meadow

The jagged Cascades ridgeline is the most detailed cutting in the piece. After that comes the easiest part: filling your meadow with flowers.

  • How to carve and tuck the mountain ridgeline without collapsing the narrow foam sections it shares with the sky
  • Layering gray-blue batiks from light to dark so the Cascades recede behind the glowing sunrise
  • Working with floral prints: directional patterns, looser weaves that fray more than batiks, and how to place the blooms you want front and center
  • Hannah's final once-over: re-tucking loose edges, smoothing ripples, and snipping stray threads so your piece is frame-ready

Included free today

Two bonuses, $74 of value, yours at no extra cost

01 $37 value · free

Frame It Right

A full video lesson on framing and finishing, taught by Hannah with her finished piece, and why she reaches for a shadow box instead of a ribbon edge.

  • The shadow box that fits this piece (9 inches, with a one-inch internal depth) and how to prep it before your piece slides in
  • Why Hannah removes the glass from every frame she uses, and what that does for the texture you worked so hard to create
  • How to seat your piece snugly, secure the backing, and care for it long-term: keep it out of direct sun and lint-roll it clean
A finished kinusaiga piece being seated into a shadow box frame
02 $37 value · free

Alternate Kinusaiga Sunrise Template

Hannah builds the same template a second time, in a different color scheme, filmed as one continuous sped-up video. Watch the whole piece come together, or pause at each step and build alongside her.

  • See how much the fabric changes the mood: a new palette on the same sunrise design
  • One continuous timelapse from first cut to framed piece: carving, placing, tucking, and framing in order
  • Made for follow-along pacing: pause anywhere, work your step, then press play for the next one
An alternate colorway of the kinusaiga sunrise landscape

The offer

Everything above, for $47

Hannah's one-of-a-kind kinusaiga originals sell for thousands of dollars. This workshop is her complete process, filmed up close and yours to keep. The full price will be $97.

Founding student price

Because this workshop is brand new, yours could be one of the first. Founding students get in at $47 instead of $97, and in exchange we ask two small things: tell us what you think, and when your piece is finished, send us a photo. When the first student gallery goes up on this page, the price goes up with it.

Complete workshop + 2 bonuses

The Paint With Fabric Workshop

Five modules, printable template, lifetime access

$97 $47

One-time purchase · Lifetime access

  • The Complete Paint With Fabric Workshop ($97 value)
  • Hannah's Printable 9" x 9" Template, with her fabric notes (included)
  • Printable Supplies Checklist (included)
  • Bonus 01: Frame It Right ($37, free)
  • Bonus 02: Alternate Kinusaiga Sunrise Template ($37, free)
  • Lifetime access, at your own pace, no expiry
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
Total value $171 You pay $47
Start Creating Your First Fabric Landscape Secure checkout · Instant access
Secure payment 256-bit SSL 30-day guarantee PayPal · Visa · Mastercard

In their words

What makers say about learning from Hannah

Word-for-word public comments on Hannah's free beginner kinusaiga tutorial on YouTube.

"I just finished my first piece. I wanted to thank you for creating the video... Thank you so much for taking the time to do all of this!! Your art is beautiful."

@AllisonEastman-q7e4xYouTube comment on Hannah's tutorial

"I absolutely love it & I'm excited to try. You are an excellent teacher, easy to understand."

@debbieking3779YouTube comment on Hannah's tutorial

"My mom and I started doing Kinusaiga because of your videos and we are obsessed. We have now taught 5 or 6 other people and are having so much fun!"

@katiewilkinson3175YouTube comment on Hannah's tutorial

"Oh God. This is very dangerous for me. I'm a quilter and this would be an AMAZING use of all the scraps that I have! Oh honey... need some foam!!! Seriously, this is amazing!"

@Esmerelda_Uaine_MorrigannaethYouTube comment, 59 likes

30
DAYS

30-Day Money Back Guarantee

You don't have to make the final decision now. Get instant access to the full Paint With Fabric Workshop right now and try it out. Watch the videos. Follow along with Module 1. Choose your fabric and carve your first groove. If at any point within 30 days you decide it's not for you, for any reason at all, just send a quick email and you'll receive every penny back within 24 hours. No questions, no awkward conversation. You either love what you create or you get a full refund. That's it.

Questions

Frequently asked

What is kinusaiga, exactly?
Kinusaiga (kee-noo-SYE-gah) is a Japanese fabric art created by artist Setsu Maeno in the 1980s, built on the much older kimekomi tradition. Instead of paint, you use cloth. Shallow grooves get carved into a foam board following a printed template, a piece of fabric is laid over each section, and the raw edges are tucked down into the grooves until they disappear. The result has the depth and gradient of a painting with the soft, quilted texture of fabric. Nothing is sewn, drawn, or painted.
Is this the same thing as quilting or applique?
No. There's no needle, no thread, and no sewing machine anywhere in this. Quilting and applique join fabric with stitches. Kinusaiga holds fabric in place by tucking its edges into carved grooves, which is why the finished surface has that pillowed, seamless look. Quilters do tend to fall hard for it because it uses fabrics they already know well, but you don't need a single day of quilting experience to start.
Do I need any prior art or craft experience?
No experience needed. This course was designed for people who don't consider themselves artists. You don't need to know how to draw, paint, or sew. If you can cut fabric with scissors and tuck it into a groove with the back of a seam ripper, you can do this. Hannah's in-person classes are built for total beginners, and this course teaches the same way: one small step at a time.
When does the course begin? Can I go at my own pace?
The moment your purchase goes through, everything unlocks: all five modules, the welcome video, and both bonuses. It's all pre-recorded, so you can start right now at 2 AM or next Saturday morning, whatever works for your schedule. Watch one module a day or binge the entire thing in one afternoon. There's no schedule to follow and no deadlines to meet.
What materials and supplies do I need?
A one-inch insulation foam board from the hardware store, double-sided adhesive sheets from the craft store, sharp scissors, a precision craft knife, and an ordinary seam ripper that costs a couple of dollars. Module 1 shows you the exact foam board Hannah buys. Add a 9-inch shadow box if you'd like to frame it. For fabric, quilting cottons and batiks are what you want, and Hannah walks you through exactly what to look for in each section. A 9-inch piece doesn't take much cloth, so fat quarters from any quilt shop go a long way. Starting from scratch, most people spend around $25 to $40 on supplies. And there's nothing to memorize: the full supplies list is included as a printable PDF at the very start of the course.
How big is the finished piece?
The course walks you through Hannah's 9" x 9" Sunrise Over the Cascades landscape, framed in a standard 9-inch shadow box with a one-inch internal depth. She shows you how to prep it, including why she removes the glass. It's real wall art, sized to hang. And the technique itself scales: once you've learned it at this size, the same method works on larger boards whenever you're ready.
Do I need to use the exact same fabric shown in the course?
No, and you probably won't want to. The template lists the fabric types Hannah used, batiks for the sky and mountains and florals for the meadow, so you know what to look for. The palette itself is yours. That's the whole nature of this art form: nobody else has your exact combination of fabric, so nobody else could make your piece.
How long does it take to finish a piece?
Set aside an afternoon for the build, and don't rush the fabric choosing; that's half the fun. Hannah's advice through the whole course is that it's not a race. Some people finish in a day, plenty spread it across a weekend, and you can pause at any point and pick up where you left off.
Is this hard on the hands?
The motions are light. The board is soft insulation foam, so carving is a slow, easy cut rather than something you force, and tucking is pressing fabric edges in with the back of a seam ripper. There's no hand-sewing and no threading needles. The finished piece is 9" x 9", a small board that sits on the table in front of you, and since everything is pre-recorded, you can stop for a break whenever you like. The camera stays close-up the whole time, so each step is easy to see.
Is this a one-time payment?
Yes, $47 once, and that's the end of it. There's no subscription hiding behind it and no 'premium upgrade' waiting on the other side. You pay once and own access to the course and both bonuses permanently.
What if I'm not satisfied with the course?
You're covered by the full 30-day money-back guarantee. If the workshop isn't for you, even if you just change your mind, send one email within 30 days and your refund arrives within 24 hours. Nobody will ask you to explain.
How long do I have access to the course?
Your access never expires. Watch and re-watch every module as many times as you want, whenever you want, for as long as the internet exists. If we ever update or add new content, you get that too at no extra charge.
What format is the course delivered in?
The entire course is video-based, and the camera stays close, so you can see every cut and tuck as Hannah does it, with the repetitive stretches sped up. You also get Hannah's printable 9" x 9" template PDF with her fabric recommendations printed right on it, plus the bonus videos. Everything works on your phone, tablet, or computer.
How is this different from the free tutorials on YouTube?
Free videos are a great way to discover kinusaiga, and Hannah shares some herself. But short videos are snippets by nature: a few minutes of one step, without the whole process around them. This course is the full build, start to finish. You begin with a blank board in Module 1 and end with a finished, frameable landscape, with Hannah explaining what she's doing and why at every step, plus her printable template and her fixes for when something goes sideways.
Is it safe to purchase online?
Your payment runs through a secure, SSL-encrypted checkout with PayPal, Visa, or Mastercard. Your card details are never stored on our servers. It's the same checkout security you get from any major retailer.

One last thing

Ready to make your first fabric landscape?

Thank you so much for taking the time to learn this art form from someone who has been practicing it for years. Kinusaiga isn't difficult. It's patient, careful, and quietly absorbing, and at the end of it you're holding a sunrise you made out of cloth. Let's begin.

Hannah Austin, Needle OR Thread

Founding student price

The Paint With Fabric Workshop

5 modules · Printable template · 2 bonuses · Lifetime access

$97 $47

One-time purchase · Lifetime access

Start Creating Your First Fabric Landscape Secure checkout · Instant access · 30-day guarantee
Secure payment 256-bit SSL 30-day guarantee PayPal · Visa · Mastercard