Susan Briscoe - Japanese Style

These pretty drawstring bags are called kinchaku, a word derived from kin (width) and chaku (to wear). In Japan, they are used as kimono accessories and are popular items for decorating with sashiko.

Two pieces of plain sashiko fabric 11in 8in (27.9cm 21.6cm)

Two pieces of plain cotton 11in 8in (27.9cm 21.5cm) for lining

Two pieces of plain cotton 3in (8.9cm) square for flower trims

Fine sashiko thread in white and variegated perle thread No 8

Two 25in (63.5cm) lengths of cord for drawstring

10in 8in (26.7cm 20.3cm)

1 Mark and cut curved bottom corners on the outside panels and the lining using a 2in (6.4cm) diameter circle template. Mark and stitch the nowaki (grasses) sashiko pattern see .

2 Assemble the bag using in (6mm) seams throughout. With right sides together, sew one outside panel to one lining piece across the top only. Press the seam towards the outside panel. Repeat with the second panel and lining piece but this time press the seam towards the lining.

3 With right sides together, outer against outer and lining against lining, sew the bag together (). Sew to 1in (2.5cm) below the top of the bag. Leave in (1.9cm) gaps unsewn for the drawstring and a 3in (7.6cm) gap unsewn in the lining. Press seams open and clip seam allowances to in (3mm) around corner curves.

4 Turn right side out, through the lining gap. Push the lining down inside the bag and press. Mark two lines across the bag, joining the ends of the gaps left for the drawstring, 1in (2.5cm) and 1in (4.4cm) from the top edge. Stitch around the bag on each line to make a channel. Insert each drawstring, knot the ends and stitch the lining gap closed.

5 Fold one 3in (8.9cm) square of cotton in half, right sides together, and sew a in (6mm) seam to make a tube. Turn half of the tube right side out, so the fabric is doubled and seam allowance hidden. Sew running stitches around the raw end of the tube. Slip the tube over the knotted end of the drawstring and gather up tightly (). Stitch through the cord and knot to finish off. Fold the tube down over the knot. Sew stamens using yellow thread. Pinch the open end of the tube to flatten it, stitch thread through at the creases and leave loose. Pinch the end the other way and stitch another thread through. Hold all four ends of thread and knot together close to the end of the tube. Trim thread ends.

The Japanese word shimacho means stripe book, which were collections of fabric inspirations. This quilt was inspired by Japanese-style fabrics and makes good use of fabric scraps.

A fifty-four 2in (6.4cm) squares

B eighteen 4in (11.4cm) squares

C nine 6in (16.5cm) squares

D twenty-seven strips 4in 2in (11.4cm 6.4cm)

E eighteen strips 6in 4in (16.5cm 11.4cm)

F nine strips 8in 6in (21.6cm 16.5cm)

G nine strips 10in 6in (26.7cm 16.5cm)

Border fabric 3yd (3.25m)

Sewing and quilting threads to tone with patchwork

Backing fabric about 76in (193cm) square

Wadding (batting) about 76in (193cm) square

Binding fabric to match border strips about 290in (736.6cm) long

68in (172.7cm) square approximately

1 There are so many strips needed to border the feature fabric patches that it is easier to cut several sets at a time rather than cutting all of them at once, when it is very easy to lose count and either cut too few or too many. The border strips can be sorted into piles with the relevant centre fabrics as you cut. Begin by cutting twenty or so 1in (3.8cm) strips across the width of the border fabric.

Cut eighteen 9in (24.1cm) and 11in (29.2cm) strips and thirty-six 7in (19cm) strips.

Each 10in 6in (26.7cm 16.5cm) piece needs two 11in (29.2cm) and two 7in (19cm) border strips.

Each 8in 6in (21.6cm 16.5cm) piece needs two 9in (24.1cm) and two 7in (19cm) border strips. The shorter pieces left over from cutting the longer pieces can be used when you cut the borders for the 2in (6.4cm) squares.