August 24, 2021 at 09:33PM

Over the last weekend, before it gets too hot & humid here, I worked outside in our backyard. Normal routine work, but then I realized my pinky finger doesn’t move well, following with a bit of pain. On Sunday, I cooked dinner for 2 families (of course, without this taping). They are a family of both medical doctors, and one recommended X-ray, the other advised aluminium splint, and my choice was Salonpas. It is getting better, so it’s all good. 

My wife worried a lot saying “Oh, that’s your stitching hand. Don’t do yard work. Your fingers are very important.” As much as I appreciate her concern, if I start protecting my hands for the purpose of stitching, it is not the main stream of Sashiko. Routine Yardwork, handyman missions, cleaning, cooking and anything that I use with my own hand is a part of my “ordinary”. I do not want to be overprotected as someone who makes something extraordinary. If my index finger is broken, I will use other fingers. If my right hand is unavailable, I can use the left hand. No hands? Then feet. The Core of Sashiko that I appreciate isn’t so much in making the perfect stitches. The beautiful perfect stitches are important, but also “merely” a result. 

Sashiko is my life: nothing will change that. 

先週、庭仕事をずーっと続けた後、ふと右手の小指の痛みに気が付きました。動かない。突き指をした時のような鈍い痛みです。痛覚が鈍いので、大丈夫っしょと放置しつつ、日曜日に披露した夕飯時には、お医者様ご夫婦から「レントゲンしないと駄目」とか「固定してりゃ大丈夫」とか助言を頂きましたが、僕は安定のサロンパスです。久光製薬さん、米国進出ありがとうございます。

運針ができない程度には痛みがあったのですが、僕よりも心配してくれたのが妻で。「針を持つ手じゃない!」と今後の庭仕事も考え直したら?と指摘がありました。外注しろってことです。う〜ん。僕は日常の当たり前の仕事、庭仕事、炊事洗濯、日曜大工等を外注してまで、刺し子に没頭はしたくないのです。むしろ、刺し子もその日常の当たり前の一部で。刺し子だけ抜き出すのは変。一つの指が動かなくなりゃ、違う指で。右手が駄目なら左手で。それが駄目なら体のどこかで。刺し子の真髄は必ずしも「針目という結果」だけじゃないかなと思っているのでね。勿論、美しい針目は大事ですけれど。

#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #刺し子


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