Sashiko Basics
Sashiko is a Japanese mending, quilting, and embroidery practice. With humble beginnings in rural Japan, Sashiko’s “small stabs” of hand-stitching insulated and repaired work garments, bedding, and winter wear for strength and longevity. It continues as a contemporary handwork skill to mend and embellish garments and home goods.
A simple running stitch with a grid as its guide creates bold, geometric patterns on textiles. Learn
Sashiko’s "small stabs" strategy to load multiple stitches onto the needle and maintain fabric tension without a hoop. Layout grids and stitch designs onto denim and linen squares. Transform the samplers into useful and decorative patches, coasters, or scented sachets.
Choose from a variety of traditional Sashiko patterns inspired by nature, architecture, and culture. Everyone will work at their own pace, selecting designs that suit their aesthetic and comfort level. Patterns may include: tiny plus signs, rice stitch, ocean waves, wild grasses, or linked seven treasures.
Bring your good reading glasses, a water bottle, and a snack or lunch to sustain you while stitching. A take-home kit includes; a pair of Sashiko needles, fabric squares, bees’ wax, and an instructive pattern ‘zine. All of the colorful threads and necessary communal tools and materials will be provided.
No experience required! All skill levels are welcome from experienced to novice hand-sewer!
Bring your good reading glasses, a water bottle, and a snack or lunch to sustain you while stitching. A take-home kit includes; a pair of Sashiko needles, fabric squares, bees’ wax, and an instructive pattern ‘zine. All of the colorful threads and necessary communal tools and materials will be provided.
No experience required! All skill levels are welcome from experienced to novice hand-sewer!
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
| Skill Details: | |
| Requirements: | Vaccination and Masking is required for participation in this workshop. |
| Instructor: | Rachel Barclay |
| Instructor Bio: | Rachel Barclay studied Textiles, Installation Sculpture, Printmaking, and Elementary Education in San Francisco and Long Beach, California. Throughout her journey as a creator, educator, and parent, she has focused on making functional sewn and embellished garments, and mixed media textile objects. After learning Sashiko and Visible Mending with Jessica Marquez of Miniature Rhino, Rachel embraced the hand-work practice as an act of mindfulness, empowerment, beauty, and sustainability. She continues to study Sashiko Embroidery online with Kazue Yoshikawa of Sashiko Lab in Kyoto, Japan. Rachel shares her joy of hand-stitching with adults and children, alike, teaching workshops in Sashiko Japanese Embroidery Basics, Sashiko-stitched Tea Towels, Hand Sewn Drawstring Bags, and Visible Mending. Rachel stitches, mends, sews, reads teen fiction, journals, walks, and forages for natural dye materials. She lives in Middlebury, Connecticut alongside her woodworking spouse, Michael Pekovich, and their two young adult offspring. Follow her creative process on Instagram @rachelharrietteb |
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