09/06/2018 - Upcycle Stitches

Sashiko Fukin (刺し子ふきん）is one of the most popular Sashiko items in Japan. Fukin means a sampler or a dish-cloth. The Japanese use this square piece of white cloth to cover the food, wipe the dishes, and other many kitchen activities. Here is a sample of How to Sashiko Asanoha Fukin with video of me stitching and the photos of each step. There is no “right” way to proceed the stitching. It is merely a sample but would be useful when you work on the Sashiko Stitching with Asano-ha pattern.

Preparation | Sashiko Asanoha Fukin

Sarashi (晒）is a Japanese thin cotton fabric. (I plan to have them in stock soon).

We prefer to make Sashiko with the double layers. After drawing (transferring) the pattern, secure the two layers with safety pins or such.

Sashiko Asanoha Fukin 1

Steps of How to Sashiko Asanoha Fukin

The core concept of making a good Sashiko Fukin is to have the “one-stroke” stitching. The optimal (the most efficient) way to stitch vary from a pattern to pattern.

Step.1 | Around of Sashiko Asanoha Fukin

Stitch around the corner. Then, the safety pins can be removed.

Sashiko Asanoha Fukin 0

Step.2 | Diagonal Lines

Find the longest line, which happens to be the diagonal lines. Enjoy running stitch without cutting the thread until the thread runs out.

Sashiko Asanoha Fukin 2

Use “Kasane” to continue.

Sashiko Asanoha Fukin 4

Step.3 | Small Zigzag Lines

After enjoying the long diagonal lines, then move to the small zigzag lines.

Step.4 | In-between Lines

Fill the leftovers with using Kasane.

Sashiko Asanoha Fukin 6

Sashiko Asanoha Fukin 5

Step Extra | Enjoy addition

The Fukin Project complete with the step.4

However, I decided to continue the process by adding another color to make the double stitches to enjoy the difference between dark Indigo & Light Indigo.

Sashiko Asanoha Fukin 7

Join our community by taking our Workshops

Sashiko is a process of simple stitching. However, without proper basics, it could be confusing and difficult to enjoy. Upcycle Stitches LLC & Atsushi offer the Sashiko Workshop in NYC and Online. Please consider joining our community where you can learn not only how to stitch these beautiful Japanese geometric pattern but also connect to a community where people share the same great passion to Sashiko.

Sashiko Workshops September 2018

Some of the tutorials are available online, Youtube.

I had the month of August as a “Workshop Free month” to focus on my Sashiko Projects. It was a very good opportunity and now it is about time to start another series of Sashiko Workshops. Here is a quick update of Sashiko Workshops September 2018.

Although I was about to advertise on this website before they are sold out, some of the workshops are already full, and some even have a waiting list. I feel very fortunate to have many people interested in Sashiko. I am looking forward to meeting you there, at each location.

A quick look for the Sashiko Workshops September 2018

Sashiko Workshop @ NJMQG

I offer the Sashiko Stitching workshop as the part of NJMQG workshop program. It was designed mostly for the member of NJMQG, and all the seats are sold out. If you are a part of Quilt Guild or other organization interested in Sashiko, please contact me for the “custom-adjusted yet traditional” workshop opportunity.

You may find the sample fee and structures on this blog post.

Arranging Sashiko Workshop | Bring Sashiko to your group.

Sashiko Workshop @ Purl Soho

I offer the well-organized Sashiko Workshop at the beautiful crafting store in Soho neighborhood.

Purl Soho is one of a very few stores that carry our Natural Dye Sashiko Thread. I am so happy to share my experience and technique in the well-known store for craft lovers. (I received a new that the workshop is full and has a waiting list now. Please contact Purl Soho for the details.)

Also, check the beautiful thread that Sashi.Co & Keiko Futatsuya exclusively dyed for them with Indigo.

https://www.purlsoho.com/hand-dyed-sashiko-embroidery-thread.html

Sashiko (Introductory) Workshop @ Japan Society

Our goal is to share the beautiful culture of Sashiko. Yes, ideally, I would need at least 3 hours to teach you the technique to enjoy Sashiko as much as we do, I am very happy to share the introductory Sashiko and its culture to the many people who are related to Japan Society NYC, which has been a symbol of mutual understandings between the USA and Japan.

It is my honor to serve as a teacher to share some of the Japanese cultures.

(I found out that the workshop is full at this point and no waiting list…)

https://www.japansociety.org/event/sashiko-japanese-embroidery

Sashiko Workshop & Stitching on Denim Workshop @ Tatter Blue Library

The last, but not the least workshop I have in September is with Tatter Blue Library. In this workshop, we focus on the Sashiko Stitching on the Denim. In the morning section, the participant will learn the basic and core of Sashiko Stitching. After a quick break, we all will work on the denim pants or jackets the participants bring.

It is strongly recommended to participate in both workshops in one day. 7 hours of intensive stitching experience will level you up to enjoy the Sashiko Denim Stitching on your own garment. Would you like to make a denim like a photo below? It is the workshop for you.

Sashiko Workshops September 2018

Registration Link: Please ask Tatter Blue Library for the detail

https://www.tatter.org/sashiko-stitching/

https://www.tatter.org/sashiko-on-denim/

*The “Sashiko on Denim Workshop” has a prerequisite of “Traditional Sashiko Workshop” or Sashiko Stitching Workshop (Core & Basic) offered fully by Atsushi Futatsuya.

After Sashiko Workshops September 2018

Even after Sashiko Workshops September 2018, the workshop in 2018 continues. We are working on scheduling one Sashiko Workshop in October (Probably 10/13 & 10/14) in Brooklyn. One weekend of Sashiko Stitching Workshop (Core & Basic) in TriBeCa, NYC, November 17th and 18th.

Once we know the detail, we will introduce it first on Instagram, then a newsletter, then a blog post. Please follow our SNS account and subscribe the newsletter from the sidebar.