Kumiko: Learn Japanese Woodworking Design

Course final project

A course by Matt Kenney , Professional Furniture Maker

Professional Furniture Maker. Watertown, United States.
Joined October 2020
99% positive reviews (146)
5,619 students
Audio: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian

About the final project for: Kumiko: Learn Japanese Woodworking Design

The Art of Kumiko: Creating Patterns with Wood

We have reached the end of the course and now you are ready to start your project. Before saying goodbye, let’s go over the steps I recommend you follow to complete the project. First, assemble the tools and materials you need to make it. It’s a good idea to make the sleds, jigs, and guide blocks before you begin making the Kumiko panel. After you have completed them, make and assemble the frame. With the frame done, move on to the asa-no-ha patterns, making the diagonals, then the hinge pieces, and finally the locking pieces. The hashtag patterns are the last pieces of the puzzle. When the entire panel is complete, give it a good sanding, using some sandpaper glued to a piece of plywood. What I’ve shown you in this course is just a small fraction of what you can do with Kumiko. There are hundreds of patterns and even other types of frames that are based on triangles rather than squares. The good news is that the techniques you’ve learned can be used to make those other patterns and frames. But the truth is you can make a wide variety of panels with just the two patterns I’ve shown you. For example, you can vary the size of the asa-no-ha pattern in a single frame to create stunning panels. You can make a small frame with just a single asa-no-ha and use it as a coaster, or make several small frames and arrange them on a wall to create a striking bit of art. Kumiko can be challenging to make. It’s important to remember that your most important tool is patience. Work carefully and thoughtfully. That’s how you avoid mistakes, but even if you do make some mistakes, it’s alright. As I always tell students, appreciate all that you have done right and learn from the little that went wrong. In the end, you will be able to see the beauty of what you’ve made. ”

Partial transcription of the video

“We've reached the end of the course, and I've had a great time sharing a bit about myself, what interests me, and the people who have helped me get to where I am. I hope this introduction to Kumiko has expanded the possibilities for your work. In this lesson, I'm going to review all the steps we took to make the final project. Feel free to refer to it along the way for confidence and inspiration in your work. During this course, we reviewed the types of tools you'll need to make Kumiko. including a table saw, Some hand tools, like a dozuki and a chisel, and also the quality of wood that you...”

This transcript is automatically generated, so it may contain mistakes.


Course summary for: Kumiko: Learn Japanese Woodworking Design

  • Level: Beginner
  • 99% positive reviews (146)
  • 5619 students
  • 5 units
  • 18 lessons (2h 53m)
  • 5 downloads
  • Category

    Craft
  • Areas

    Accessory Design, Arts & Crafts, DIY, Interior Design, Woodworking

Matt Kenney

Matt Kenney
A course by Matt Kenney

Teacher Plus
Professional Furniture Maker

Matt Kenney is a professional furniture maker who has been creating things from wood his entire life. He left academia to work as an editor at Fine Woodworking Magazine where he wrote articles, shared instructional videos, and co-hosted the magazine’s podcast. In 2015, he took on the “52 boxes in 52 weeks” challenge and discovered the Japanese woodworking technique Kumiko in the process. Since then, he’s been dedicated to learning new patterns and techniques whilst teaching others to do the same.

As well as furniture, Matt uses Kumiko to create decorative pieces of art. He has also published two books, 52 Boxes in 52 Weeks, and The Art of Kumiko in which he shares the techniques and knowledge he has developed during his career as a furniture maker.


  • 99% positive reviews (146)
  • 5,619 students
  • 18 lessons (2h 53m)
  • 11 additional resources (5 files)
  • Online and at your own pace
  • Available on the app
  • Audio: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
  • Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
  • Level: Beginner
  • Unlimited access forever

Category

Areas

Kumiko: Learn Japanese Woodworking Design. Craft course by Matt Kenney

Kumiko: Learn Japanese Woodworking Design

A course by Matt Kenney
Professional Furniture Maker. Watertown, United States.
Joined October 2020
  • 99% positive reviews (146)
  • 5,619 students