Guest Diana Vandervoort celebrates the holidays by introducing viewers to a Koma - a traditional Japanese wrapped ornament patterned after a child's spinning top. For those crafters trying to minimize costs, these ornaments serve as great gifts since they're rich-looking yet they require inexpensive materials. Although completion of this project is a time-consuming process, the undeniably beautiful outcome is well worth the effort.
Materials:
3-ply cardboard or old cereal box
pencil
12-inch T-square or ruler
scissors
double-stick tape
tacky white glue
toothpicks
paper clips
straight pins
ribbons in many bright colors, varying widths - 1 yard each
threads or yarns - cotton, rayon or wool, any scraps
gold or sliver trims, braids, or cords
decorative upholstery fringe
sewing thread or invisible thread
fusible webbing
iron
favorite fabrics
large bead
Steps For Ribbon Koma:
- Draw the pattern on the cardboard. The shape consists of three equal squares in a line. It is one square wide and three squares long. This proportion can be made to any size such as 2 inches wide by 6 inches long, or 3 inches wide by 9 inches long. Draw the sides of the squares inside the shape.
- Draw 3 diagonal lines through the 3 squares so they zigzag through the squares connecting the diagonal points of the squares.
- Cut out the cardboard rectangle.
- With the scissors opened wide, use one point and the straight edge to score the lines of the sides and diagonals. Score accurately into the corners.
- Bend the cardboard away from you at each of the scored lines, including the tab ends.
- Fold the cardboard into the double pyramid form.
- To create the hanging loop, cut a 12-inch piece of sewing thread. Knot one end. Adhere with tape or glue to the inside of the top of the box.
- Use double-stick tape to stick the sides of the box together. The double-stick tape will also provide outside adhesive to hold the ribbons in place. Place a pin in each point of the folded box.
- Begin wrapping the ribbon starting at the top center of a side, along an upper ridge, under its point, up the other side, around the top to the next ridge and under its point, around the top to the next ridge and under its point. End where you began.
- Begin the next color at the center of the side, just below the last row, same side as the first. Use a l/2-inch piece of double-stick tape to start a wider ribbon, or a dot of glue to start the thread. End one color and begin the next in the same spot.
- Continue to wrap the Koma until the cardboard surface is completely covered. The overlapping of the ribbons and threads create the design.
Steps For Fabric Box:
- Cut the fusible webbing and fabric 1/2 inch larger on all sides than the scored cardboard pattern (see above).
- With a slightly warm iron, fuse webbing to the fabric.Remove paper backing.
- Place the cardboard pattern in the center of the adhesive-backed side of the fabric. Turn up an edge and tack with the point of your warm iron. Continue around all sides.
- Fold the box into shape using the score lines. Glue sides together.
Steps For Tassels:
- Different colors of upholstery fringe should be selected to match the color combinations on the koma. Tassels hang from the 3 side points and the bottom.
- Cut a 2- to 3-inch length of fringe. Pull up one of the strings up.
- Dot glue along the stitching end of the fringe piece.
- Roll up the stitching end tightly with the end coming out the center of the tassel.
- Wrap and tie a bit of gold or silver metallic thread or ribbon around the neck of the tassel. Use a needle and a double thread. Secure the end with 2 to 3 back stitches.
- String a large bead over the end. Loop the tassel end once through the bead to hold in place.
- Tie a single granny knot 1/2 inch above the bead on the tassel.
- Remove pins from ends of koma. Widen the holes slightly with a straightened paper clip. Dot some glue at each point and push inside the hole with the paper clip.
- Place the knot over the hole. With the paper clip point, push the knot of the tassel inside the hole. Cut off the excess 1/2 inch above the knot, and push the remainder into the hole. Pinch the hole closed and gently pull on the tassel to sink the knot into the glue at the opening.
- Insert tassels at all side points and bottom point.
Diana's Tips:
- This is a project that kids can enjoy, too. Mom can do the measuring and scoring of the box, and kids can do the wrapping and tassel-making. As you can see, the materials for this project may be varied. Just about any fabric and yarn scraps may be used.
- The fabric-covered box can serve as a gift box for a very special Christmas surprise. Leave one side unglued, and close it with one wrap of wide ribbon.
Resources Temari Adventures: Fun and Easy Japanese Thread and Quilt Balls
by Diana Vandervoort (ISBN: 4889960384)
Temari
Website:
www.temari.comTemari Traditions: More Techniques for Japanese Thread Balls
by Diane Vandervoort (ISBN: 0870409492)
Click
here to order this title.
Temari
Website:
www.temari.comTemari Treasures: Japanese Thread Balls and More
by Diane Vandervoort (ISBN: 0870409832)
Temari
Website:
www.temari.comTemari: How to Make Japanese Thread Balls
by Diana Vandervoort (ISBN: 087040881X)
Click
here to order this title.
Temari
Website:
www.temari.com Guests Diana Vandervoort
Author and owner of Temari
Website:
www.temari.com
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