Make your own Five Stones – a traditional game
This is a very simple to make craft project (I took longer to write this tutorial than to make them!) and it uses fabric scraps 10cm x 7cm. Five stones is a traditional game, one that I played when I was a little girl. I’m not sure if people in other parts of the world also play this. More information on how to play, here.
Anyway, let’s get started!
Step 1: You’ll need 5 pieces of fabric scraps measuring 10cm x 7cm. I chose different but similar linen prints for randomness.
Step 2: Next, fold the wider side right sides together and sew an L-shape.
Step 3: When you’re done, turn it inside out. Tip: Snip the corners so you’ll have sharper points when you turn it over.
Step 4: Pay attention now! Pinch opposite sides together!
Step 5: Fill with plastic pellets, beans, rice or anything with a bit of weight, about 60% full, then fold down inwards (about 1cm deep).
Step 6: Carefully machine-sew across the opening or hand slip-stitch for a perfect finishing. (I chose the easy way.)
One down, four more to go! Put them in a little drawstring bag and throw in a tiny sheet of instructions and it makes a complete gift! I’ll be writing a tutorial for the drawstring bag in a bit. 
Extra tip: Sew all the pieces continuously so you won’t waste the thread.
Hello, in Brazil, we called “Cinco Marias” – Five Mary, but this game has many names on country. We play with little stones ou rectangular clothes bags. In Spain, “Jogo das Tabas” – Tabas Game. Greeks and Romans played this with little bones.
I love your work!
Fernanda
28 Oct 07 at 1341hrs
Hello Fernanda,
Thank you for sharing these interesting facts about “Five Stones”! And thank you for liking my work!
keymistress
28 Oct 07 at 1717hrs
Cute fabric u have there. Where do u get them from??
I’m Ciyou from Malaysia, 5 stones was one we play when I was young, but that time, we really play with stones, nowadays seems like there is more conversion of stone to kawaii cute beads bags
ciyou
30 Oct 07 at 1039hrs
just wanna ask where do u import your fabric from? Do u travel to Japan to buy and sell at here? I’m interested to know more
ciyou
30 Oct 07 at 1116hrs
Hello ciyou, I bought the fabrics from Japan. Some were bought in Japan and some where bought online.
keymistress
30 Oct 07 at 1123hrs
[...] of great tutorials on some crafty little sewing projects. Learn how to make a five-stones game here. Or make yourself an eco friendly re-useable shopping tote [...]
Web Site Review Swap « the aesthetic onion swaps
6 Feb 08 at 2326hrs
Oh, we used to call it knuckles and I loved this game. Thanks for reminding me.
Melinda
20 Mar 08 at 1436hrs
[...] Via: Junie found the pattern here [...]
my half of the brain » Blog Archive » Junie Moon’s Five Stones Game
3 Sep 08 at 0937hrs
I’m from Malaysia — in my schooldays we used to play with five rectangular bean bags. I can’t remember much of the fules now, but there were many levels, and you could not get to the next level if you did not complete the current level. It kept us occupied for hours! We also sometimes played with bottle caps instead of bean bags, but bean bags were still the top favourite.
Thanks very much for the extra tip of sewing the bags continuously to save thread. I’ve been told it can be done but I could not figure out how! So thank you!
Juliana
3 Sep 08 at 1559hrs
Sorry, I meant “rules”, not “fules”! Oops!
Juliana
3 Sep 08 at 1600hrs
in Japan it is called “otedama”. We had a similar game in New Zealand as kids and called it “knucklebones” – and having real sheep`s bones to play it with was the ultimate (mostly we just had coloured plastic knuckle bones). My mother said in Enlgand they had “jacks” which were star shaped made of metal, and a little rubber ball. Sounds like a pretty unviersal game!
namakemono
8 Sep 08 at 1316hrs
[...] A fun game [...]
Skip To My Lou » Gifts for Children
10 Sep 08 at 2007hrs
Hi! I’m from Germany and I love your fabrics. Would you tell me, where this wunderful textile is from? I love Babuschkas in that russian style…
inga
25 Sep 08 at 1808hrs
What a cute idea!!! sounds like it’s played like Jacks. I am going to make these as christmas presents!! what a wonderful handmade toy! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Michelle
25 Sep 08 at 2217hrs
Hello inga, I bought the fabric from a Japanese online store on Rakuten. I’m afraid it’s sold out now.
Michelle: Yes, I believe it’s the Asian version of Jacks!
I’m really happy that you like them!
keymistress
25 Sep 08 at 2249hrs
hey, im jewish and we play with bout quarter inch cubes made of brass n we call em kugelach, not sure why theyre called that cus it means little pudings ^_^, anyway graet game
thx
jack
28 Oct 08 at 0626hrs
5 brass cubes i should have said ^_^
jack
28 Oct 08 at 0628hrs
I’ve been hunting high and low for my childhood antique 5 stones but couldn’t find them! Probably with the the moving in the past decade…
Glad I found your blog and could maybe try making them, but damn sian, no sewing machine will have to sew by hand…
East Meets West
21 Nov 08 at 2015hrs
[...] similar to jacks. It is called Five Stones. It is a fun game that can be played with stones or can easily be made. The game would be a cool gift idea this season. It could also save you money to put toward [...]
Five Stones-- Denim & Silk
25 Nov 08 at 1157hrs
[...] http://blog.zakka-zakka.com/make-your-own-five-stones-a-traditional-game.html [...]
Five stones making… « Random thoughts
4 Dec 08 at 1540hrs
I’m from Haiti and we call it Osselet. It’s played with goat knuckles. I was pretty excited to find that they have it now in the plastic version.
Osselet_girl
22 Apr 09 at 1253hrs