angela kemp - Sashiko Pattern Book for Beginners: A Japanese Embroidery Art of Stitching Fabrics For Stylish Decorations Plus Designs, Tools, Supplies, and Project Ideas to Get You Started

Sashiko Pattern Book for Beginners

A Japanese Embroidery Art of Stitching Fabrics For Stylish Decorations Plus Designs, Tools, Supplies, and Project Ideas to Get You Started

By

Angela Kemp

Copyright 2021 Angela Kemp

All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Disclaimer

This publication is designed to provide competent and reliable information regarding the subject matter covered. However, the views expressed in this publication are those of the author alone, and should not be taken as expert instruction or professional advice. The reader is responsible for his or her own actions.

The author hereby disclaims any responsibility or liability whatsoever that is incurred from the use or application of the contents of this publication by the purchaser or reader. The purchaser or reader is hereby responsible for his or her own actions.

Introduction

S ashiko is a decorative form of reinforcement stitching that originated in Japan many years ago. Sashiko gains its unique appearance through white cotton threads on the traditional indigo blue cloth, although in some decorative items, red thread is used. Not only is Sashiko used on fabric items, but a more creative side of this art is also employed in non-fabric pieces such as bags, shoes, jewelry, gift items, and so on. Traditionally, Sashiko was used to mend points of wear and repair worn places or tears in garments with patches. It was used to make clothes last longer, especially when garments wore out; Sashiko was added to make a patch or an entirely different attire.

Today, this running stitch technique has been accepted by the larger populace and is used mainly for decorations. Sashiko is a skill that most people want to acquire to boost their knowledge of hand embroidery and others as a hobby. This book, Sashiko Pattern Book for Beginners, discusses various Sashiko techniques, patterns, tools and project ideas to get you started as a beginner and propel you into becoming an expert in the art of Shasiko hand embroidery.

Without further ado, let's get right into the basics of this art, shall we?

Chapter 1

Sashiko Basics

What is Sashiko

S ashiko is referred to as an old hand sewing technique that is still in operation today in Japan. The word "Sashiko" means "little stabs," and it is derived from the Japanese word "sasu," which implies the action of taking several stitches at once. In this stitching action, the needle is stabbed in and out of the fabric, retrieving a few gathers on the hand, which, when pulled through the cloth, a line of stitches become created at once.

Traditionally, Sashiko is crafted by running white thread through an indigo background. This craft is gotten by repeating and interlocking patterns, stitching them together to make a garment or mend one.

Sashiko was known as "Boro'' in northern Japan, and this was a process of stitching worn clothes. Boro evolved from its origination of the Edo Period (1603-1867) into a glamorous embellish fabric now known as Sashiko.

In today's fashion world, Sashiko is used as a garment of luxury and accessories that vary in colors. Sashiko can be woven/stitched into any fabric, although a loose weave makes room for the Sashiko thread to lay flat and not around the stitching.

Babylock currently produces Sashiko sewing machines.

History of The Sashiko Art

S ashiko, being described as a kind of embroidery, does not capture its full eloquence. To me, Sashiko is more than that; the patterns are precise and soothing to the eyes and hands. The most appropriate sentence to describe Sashiko's art has not been put together yet.

Sashiko first originated in the rural north of Japan and spread like wildfire along subsequent trade routes. Sadly, like many other old traditions, Sashiko's origins have been lost in time. From 1868-1912, Sashiko was fully established as a worldwide technique. Unlike Japan's adorned silk fabrics, Sashiko was produced and mainly used by the peasants and thus was called a " folk textile ." Sashiko mostly was a winter work for farming and fishing women waiting to be married. These women used the technique to preserve worn-out fabrics and mend their everyday wear. It wasn't until the mid-1870s that Industrialized fabric creation reached Japan. Before then, hemp, linen, and cotton were usually woven and dried with bare hands. Mending was crucial to survival in Japan. Clothes were precious resources but amounted to heavy labor; however, every piece of scrap was of enormous value. The fabric produced near Osaka was too expensive for the general public. So they continued weaving their daily work clothes themselves, although cotton was rare to find in northern Japan because of its inability to grow in the cold. The Sashiko patterns traditionally were sewn on dark indigo fabrics with off-white stitches, and this was indeed a classic combination.