Here is our 5th Collection of Sashiko Swatches for sale. Memorable #50 are so-called “Boro Inspired” Sashiko stitched Fabric. They are listed on our Etsy Store. Thanks to those who purchased our beautiful, one of a kind, sashiko swatches, we can continue introducing the more Sashiko fabrics.
Every swatch is hand-stitched, of course. We respect a story in the Japanese farmer’s history, “soybeans – patchwork” and appreciated very small Japanese fabrics. Enjoy the beauty of patchworking with Boro Inspired concept.
*A series of introducing our Sashiko swatches has consisted of many articles on this website.
Ultimately speaking, I would say that Boro Inspired fabric is “to be Boro” fabric.
There is not a significant line that we distinguish which is Boro or Not. However, in our understanding, Boro is the result of “repetitive Sashiko mending & stitching.” The single patchworking doesn’t make the fabric Boro. However, any kinds of patchworking and mending projects with respecting the concept of “Mottainai” and appreciating the fabric, we respect it.
It is just for us to distinguish what we make.
One is Boro Inspired beautiful sashiko swatch, and the one is Boro we would like to recreate after continuous stitching.
A Sample of Boro Inspired Fabric. Patchworking with vintage Japanese fabric
A Sample of Boro we revived. Check the repetitive of Sashiko to form the fabric.
A note from Etsy Description for Boro Inspired Fabric
Each of the Boro Inspired fabric is all hand-stitched and patched small fabrics here and there. It is not “quite” Boro yet by our standards, but it is absolutely beautiful and “one-of-a-kind” Sashiko swatches. They can be used as is, or to your Sashiko project. The edge is not trimmed. However, it can be used for the placemat when the friction isn’t that significant.
In a process of making Sashiko items, we collect many small swatches that we cannot even provide as the swatch. I would not prefer to list a fabric of 2-inch square. We do not throw away the beautiful fabric even if it is small. Our goal is to follow the Japanese mindset that a story tells us.
Thank you for visiting Upcycle Stitches Website. We have been adding more blog posts to enrich the contents of Sashiko and Boro. This is a Sashiko Guide to navigate you through the website.
This website, Upcycle Stitches, is a place where Atsushi shares his experience and knowledge regarding Sashiko stitching & other Japanese handcrafting culture. We collaborate with the other Sashiko and other hand-crafting artists in Japan and strive to enrich the contents to share the beauty of Sashiko and needlework (Unshin). We hope this post can walk you through as Sashiko Guide.
We provide the best & authentic Sashiko supplies
In order to answer the demand in the market, we provide the Sashiko supplies, such as thread, fabric, needle and thimble, with the great quality. We believe what we introduce on this website is the best in its quality and experience. Everything is made in Japan with respect to the original traditions and the surviving artisans’ comments to maximize the Sashiko Experience. Most of the supplies are available in our Sashiko Store within USA domestic & some international order.
Natural Indigo Dye Sashiko Thread | All hand-dyed by Keiko Futatsuya
Sashiko Needle & Sashiko Thimble. The must have items for the good Sashiko Stitching.
Sashiko Workshops to learn the traditions
In order to share the traditional Sashiko technique, we offer the Sashiko Workshop. The best way (the most efficient and confirmed way) is to take part in the on-site, Sashiko Stitching Workshop (Core & Basic), that we offer in TriBeCa Area, NYC, every 2 months or so.
Upon the requests for those who cannot travel to NYC, we have been developing the Sashiko Online Workshop.
We have just offered the first workshop in June 2018 and doing our best to continue offering it. Please check the detail here, and register your seat when you find a good time to join it.
Free and Enjoyable opportunity to feel Sashiko
We also offer a Live Streaming on Youtube, every Wednesday at 9 pm in EST (New York Time) to share the actual Sashiko Stitching.
The Live Streaming is for an opportunity to look at how the Sashiko practitioner like Atsushi makes stitching, not a workshop. We would rather talk about the history of Sashiko, Boro and other related things, why we do Sashiko and such rather than how to do Sashiko. You will find some very useful Sashiko Tutorials on our Youtube Channel for those who would teach themselves.
Your requests, questions, and feedbacks are very important for us. We may not be able to accomplish everything we receive, but we will try our best to come up with a reaction. We sincerely believe that the reactions with cares are the core of Sashiko stitching and hand-crafting.
After receiving so many emails regarding the Online Sashiko Workshop, I decided to offer the one officially.
To be honest, regardless how much I prepared for the online workshop, I am very worried if I can deliver the same experience and satisfaction to the online participants. After offering more than 10 workshops in NYC, I am pretty confident that I understand the participants’ expectation and my capacity to share the beauty of Sashiko. Over the camera, where I cannot reposition your hands and the visual information is limited to the screen, I wasn’t sure if I should even offer it.
Thanks to the encouragement from many friends and Sashiko Passionist (some who I haven’t even met), I am now offering the very first Online Sashiko Workshop.
Online Sashiko Workshop Schedule
Thanks to the participants for the first online Sashiko Workshop, I learned that the Online Sashiko Workshop can satisfy the participants. Although I still have worries and concerns, I decided to keep offering them.
As I keep mentioning that Sashiko is not all about stitching, the stitching technique is very important to fully enjoy Sashiko stitching. There are many books available in the market. I even share some of the Sashiko stitching Tutorials on Youtube for free. I still believe that it is critical for me to take a look at the participants stitching so I can provide the instruction appropriately. Yes. “Appropriately” rather than “Correctly”.
Your understanding & support to my challenging project, to share what Sashiko is to the world, would be very much appreciated.
The detail of Online Sashiko Workshop
The Workshop goes through the Live Streaming via Google Hangouts. The participants need to be online at the scheduled time. All the time I mention on this page is inthe US Eastern Time Zone (EST), New York Time.
Duration: 2 Workshops of 90 minutes each | Total of 3 hours
Price: 178.00 USD | For the limited time 100.00 USD with the agreement that this is sort of provisional online workshop.
Required skill: A basic needlework skill will be preferred. Please practice threading the needle before the workshop start.
Required environment:A device connected to the Internet. For maximizing workshop experience, the participants need to show me the posture of stitching and actual stitching. A tripod or a smartphone stand would be a good idea to have.
Web Software:Google hangout
A list of tools you need to prepare:
A Ruler
Scotch Tape
Fabric Scissors
Thread Clipper / Grip Scissors (If you have one. Substituted by regular scissors)
A Pin Cushion (If you have one)
Everything else you need for the workshop will be shipped to your address.
We have been very happy with our Sashiko Collection; 15 Mono Colored and 5 Variegated Colored (Synthetic Dye) and more than 30 Natural Dyed including Indigo and Kakishibu Persimmon Tannin. As a spokesman to share the beauty and fun of Sashiko, I would like to keep introducing the other option for the Sashiko stitching. I have tried these Pastel Color Sashiko Threads. The quality is good enough to meet my expectation and the color is brilliant. The price is reasonable compared to the Natural Dye (Hand-Dyed) Sashiko Thread. I believe these thread will expand the possibility of your Sashiko projects.
*I used to work for a company that also manufactures (OEM) the Sashiko Thread. Therefore, most of my Sashiko experience is with the thread I have been introducing (the thread manufactured by Coron). After being a part of the group of Sashiko artists, I now start using the other Sashiko threads produced by the other manufacturers.
Make a difference | Matter of preferences
It is all about preferences. These bright Pastel Color Sashiko Thread can satisfy one Sashiko project while only the Natural Dye Sashiko thread can be satisfactory for one project. Personally speaking, I would prefer to avoid mixing these bright colors and natural dye Sashiko thread, but the thread themselves are very satisfactory.
I made a sample fabric with the Pastel Color Sashiko thread. The threads have very soft – pastel color as they are. However, when you make a stitching, I can be pretty bright and they are very beautiful. I hope you can find the one for your Sashiko project.
Pastel Color Sashiko Thread | Selection
We have 5 colors available in stock.
The manufacturer makes more colors, but some of them are very similar to our Sashiko Thread Collection. These 5 colors are similar to the Natural Dye Sashiko thread comparing to the regular Mono-Dye Sashiko thread. I plan to expand the variety based on the need for the market. Let us know what you think about these Pastel Color Sashiko Thread!
Sashiko is a broad term for needleworks developed in Japan. Kogin Sashiko (SashiKogin) is one of the well-known ramifications of Sashiko. Although I do not practice Kogin Sashiko, I am a big fan of its pattern and beauty. This is an introductory article about the difference between Kogin Sashiko and the Sashiko Stitching I perform (some Japanese call it Gushinui).
Before jumping into the explanation, please read the analogy of “Pizza in the USA“, which I often use to explain what Sashiko is. It may help you to understand how I understand Sashiko.
The photos of Kogin are provided by @1005coma (Instagram).
Kogin Sashiko and Sashiko Stitching
Kogin Sashiko was developed in Aomori Prefecture and surrounded areas of the Northern part of Japan. The origin of Kogin Sashiko is to fill in the gap of rough Hemp Fabric that they had to wear even during the severe winter. The cotton fabric was too expensive for the ordinary farmers in the Northern part of Japan to wear. Therefore, the wisdom of Sashiko developed to make hemp fabric warmer by stitching with cotton thread.
Because of this tradition, the needle for Kogin is not sharp. It is purposefully made to be the dull top needle. The other Sashiko stitching usually requires the very sharp needle to minimize the damage to the cotton fabric, yet Kogin Sashiko requires the dull top needle to scoop the gap in between the hemp fabric.
A Sample of Kogin / Hishi Sashiko to fill the Gap of rough Hemp fabric.
A Sample of Sashiko Stitching | Creating the patterns with running stitch.
Kogin Sashiko and Sashiko Stitching are both needleworks with “caring” someone and supporting their ordinary lives. Both of them are the wisdom of making ordinary days a bit easier.
4 Key concepts of Sashiko are…
They stitched for
Make fabric warmer
strengthen the Fabric
Repair & mend Fabric
Decorate fabric under the severe or challenging condition to do so.
As you have read my analogy of Pizza and Sashiko, it is not about which is right Sashiko or not. I have the honor to get to know some of great Kogin Sashiko artists live in Japan. More photos and more explanation will be online accordingly.
Kogin Sashiko and Hishizashi (Hishi Sashiko)
The category of Kogin Sashiko has many kinds in its culture. I will study the difference more and introduce the characters of each Sashiko in the Nothern part of Japan.
As of now, let me introduce the most obvious distinguish the Japanese uses.
Kogin Sashiko: The patterns are made based on the counting of the Odd numbers.
Hishi Sashiko: The patterns are made based on the counting of the Even numbers.
I assume the description above doesn’t make sense by just explaining it in the text. By collaborating many Kogin artists in Japan, I will translate and introduce the Kogin Sashiko and Hishi Sashiko with more photos. If you are interested, please leave your comment here. The more I receive the feedback and comments, the faster (the more serious) I will work on the articles.
For this introduction, I wanted to share the difference between Kogin Sashiko and the regular Sashiko Stitching. Both very beautiful, but not the same.
Photos of both beautiful Sashiko culture
Please understand that the article is not about judging which is better or not. I practice the Sashiko stitching, and am proud of what I do. It is merely a matter of preferences. This website, UpcylceStitches.com, is for sharing the culture of the beautiful Japanese hand-stitching culture.
“What is Sashiko exactly?” This is probably the question in your mind. A question of “Am I doing correctly?” would tire you out when you would like to follow the traditional Sashiko style. Well, unfortunately, even we as Sashiko artists do not have the exact answer for What Sashiko really is. Regardless of my writing about what Sashiko is, the conclusion I come up with for now is to give you the analogy which helps me to explain what Sashiko is. So here is my Sashiko Analogy.
Sashiko is like a Pizza in the USA.
There are many styles of Pizza such as Neapolitan, California style, Chicago Deep Dish, and more. Can you define which is the Pizza and not Pizza? There are good pizzas and bad pizzas, but no such a thing as the right pizza and the wrong pizza. After all, it is all about the preferences.
Sashiko is very similar. There are many styles of Sashiko developed in Japan. It is about preferences, not rules.
Origin of this Sashiko Analogy
I initially come up with the Sashiko Analogy with Japanese Miso-Soup (Misoshiru) while I broadcasted my stitching on Instagram. Japanese Misoshiru is so ordinary for the Japanese and most of the household in Japan have their own style of Misoshiru.
Sashiko is(was) also too ordinary to make it like an art form over the history. Many Japanese who lived in a poor society performed Sashiko in necessity, and therefore we have many kinds of Sashiko left: some survived, some vanished.
A Sashiko Analogy with Misoshiru is a fantastic way to explain what Sashiko is to the Japanese since Misoshiru is so close to their lifestyle. I thought of what would be an equivalent to the Misoshiru and come up with the Pizza.
It can be anything.
Applesauce that your own family made for you and your family? Sauerkraut your family fermented in your family house?
The point is a sense of “ordinary things to do = nothing special.”
With a few concepts of Sashiko behind its history and the sense of ordinary process will lead you to a good understanding of what Sashiko is.
So Where do I start Sashiko?
Sashiko is ordinary things to do. Alright.
How about now? Is it ordinary?
After the economic growth in Japan, and globalization, Sashiko is not an ordinary thing to do anymore. Therefore, many people look for information and tutorials.
I am here for that. I provide “how to do Sashiko” on my Youtube Channel and Online/Onsite Sashiko Workshops, and I talk about “why I do Sashiko” in my Live streaming on Youtube.
You can learn the basic technique of Sashiko and long-established wisdom of how beautiful Sashiko can be. I also talk how beneficial Sashiko can be for the mental, mindfulness and slow switching. By learning the history of Sashiko, I strongly believe that we can enrich our life.
Sashiko is (was) a form of needlework to achieve…
Reinforcing the fabric for the warmth
Strengthening the fabric for the durability
Mending the fabric for the repurpose and recycle (upcycle)
Decorating the fabric in the limited supply and government regulations.
When your project can follow either of these “concepts based on the purpose,” I would say you are doing fantastic Sashiko.
Of course, as you can find a good pizza and horrible pizza, there are good looking Sashiko and not so much good looking Sashiko. I am here for the better looking Sashiko. I just want you to learn not only “how” to do Sashiko, but “why” to do Sashiko throughout my website.
You may read some writing archives below. The answer to the question of “What is Sashiko?” is still on my list of things to achieve. Your feedback and request will help me to seek more!
Ever since we first introduced the Kakishibu Dyed Thread in summer 2018, we have tried several Kakishibu Dyed in Sashiko Threads. The result of Kakishibu can be easily affected by sunlight, so it has been very challenging to create the similar color. However, we decided to offer the thread regardless of its small inventory number.
As of now, we have K○_1712 Series and a few left from the previous Series (K-177 and K-179).
One of the most popular Natural Dye
Squeezing the green (non-ripe) persimmon to get the juice. Fermenting it to transform the persimmon juice to a dye liquid. Smells are really strong. Controlling the condition is a big responsibility. After these steps, we can finally enjoy the natural color from Persimmon Tannin dye. We are happy to present our new Kakishibu Dyed Thread for the Sashiko stitching. The same perfect design (twist) for the Sashiko purpose, with the beautiful natural color from Kakishibu.
*Kakishibu (柿渋）= Persimmon Tannin in Japanese
4 Shades of Kakishibu Dyed Thread are available
These 3 shades and 1 variegated color are available for sale! Enjoy the natural color in your Sashiko project.
K1 | Gold Yellow
K2 | Dark Grey
K3 | Greyish Brown
K4 | Persimmon Tannin Variation / Variegated
Kakishibu Dye Professional
Ever since Sashi.Co & Keiko Futatsuya started challenging to dye Sashiko thread with Natural materials, Indigo Blue and Kakishibu Gold kept attracting us. The Kakishibu dye process requires at least 3 major conditions to make it successful.
A lot of, tons of pure water
Large space enough to prevent odor issues
Skillful artisans to follow the strict dye process
It was very challenging to successfully achieve the Golden color Sashiko thread with ourselves. Then, in 2017, we got a fortune to come across the Kakishibu Dye Professionals in Gifu Prefecture, Kaki-Zanmai. They use the locally grown persimmon and follow the steps I illustrated in the first paragraph of this article. In their studio, people can dye what they would like. We asked them to dye our Sashiko thread, and we could add the Kakishibu color to our Sashiko Thread collection.
Here is a note from their Japanese website.
Kakishibu Dye
We provide a special Kakishibu dye made from “Izira Persimmon.” This Izira Persimmon is only produced in Yamagata city, Gifu Prefecture. The Izira Persimmon contains a lot of tannin, and had been well known for Kakishibu Dye. Natural & Local product for Kakishibu Dye. Kakishibu dyed product such as threads, fabrics, and papers are believed to have these functions; Anti Corrosion, Insect repellent, Antibacterial, Deodorant (Eliminating Odors), and Waterproofing.
Kakishibu Fabric, as well.
We have asked to dye the fabric as well. It is too costly to sell online for now, but we are happy to share the photos if you are interested. Please contact me so I can take photos of beautifully dyed fabric for Sashiko purpose. We are working on a project of Sashiko art piece with using Kakishibu Dye Sashiko Thread and Kakishibu Dye Cotton Fabric. Wait for the update 🙂
It has been almost 7 years since I had encountered this beautiful project: Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project. I sometimes refer this project as “Otsuchi Sashiko”. The official name for the project is Otsuchi Recovery (Fukko) Sashiko Project (大槌復興刺し子プロジェクト）.
After the earthquake followed by Tsunami on March 11th, 2011, the five volunteers established the project to support the people in Otsuchi, especially those who had nothing to do but sitting in the evacuation shelter. The men had a lot of things to require the muscle power after the disaster. The young generation also had many tasks to revive the infrastructure such as distributing the support goods and clean. However, those who wouldn’t be able to move, mostly elderly women, did not have things to do and had to wait for nothing in the non-private shelter.
Not only the fish (support goods such as food and blankets) but also a fishing rod (a method to make a living).
The project tries to create jobs for those who couldn’t do hard labor outside.
They have been trying to create the community where anyone can gather for the purpose of stitching.
We all then hope that the stitching can be a part of the purposes of their new life after the earthquake.
I, Atsushi, first join the project in June 2011.
Then, visited Otsuchi for an advice on creating a business (creating jobs) in November, then two months in February and March in 2012. Ever since the first day I met the project, I have been thinking what I and Sashiko can do for them.
I had written many articles and reports regarding the Otsuchi Sashiko in English, but I had to give them up when my father passed away and the stakeholders decided to shut down the website. Well, even after the sad reality of me leaving Sashiko behind for while, my mother, Keiko Futatsuya, kept in touch with them. Now, she is the advisor of Sashiko technique and designing in Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project.
I do not find many articles about Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project online in English.
It is my mission to write it down what this amazing and remarkable recovery project is. This is a story of Otsuchi Sashiko throughout my eyes and emotions. The story may be biased a bit, but I believe I am introducing the fact as sincerely and accurately as I can.
Brief History of Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project (OSP)
Otsuchi town was badly damaged by the earthquake followed by Tsunami, including the loss of town hall and the mayor and more than 1,280 of people’s life. The survivors how needed an evacuation shelter by losing their house were more than 9,000 people.
A role for “mothers” and “grandmothers”
In the evacuation shelter, mothers and grandmothers, who were very much hard worker in their own house as a house-maker, didn’t have anything to do. There were no kitchen to cook, no living room to clean, no dishes to wash. Men and young generation could work for the cleaning debris, but the job required a lot of muscle power. Mothers and Grandmothers couldn’t help them even if they wanted to.
No car to commute. No place to work when a big part of the town is damaged by the Tsunami. The days of ladies in Otsuchi, well known for the hard-workers, had changed drastically.
The answers they had come up with was Sashiko, in which requires only a needle, thread, and piece of fabric. The Sashiko was doable in a limited space of the evacuation shelter. The mothers and grandmothers wanted to do “something” instead of just waiting.
One stitch by one stitch with hopes
An elder woman who lied down all the day in the evacuation shelter. A hard-working mother who lost her house-making job. A young woman who lost their job opportunity. Everyone in Otsuchi moved the needle with hoping the recovery of Otsuchi.
Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko project is their first step to the recovery by women in Otsuchi since June 2011.
The Earthquake destroyed the houses and jobs and took away our previous people. We, as Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project, would like to re-establish the town of Otsuch throughout Sashiko by strengthening, mending, and making it more beautiful.
*Sashiko is a needlework to reinforce, to repair, to mend, and to decorate the fabric.
A vision of OSP
*Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project = OSP
Toward high-spirited Otsuchi
OSP strives to cheer up people in Otsuchi and related to Otcushi throughout the Sashiko Project.
When a mother, who enjoy Sashiko, is happy, the household will be filled with smiles. If the household is filled with smiles, the town of Otsuchi will be energetic. When the town of Otsuchi become energetic, everyone in the town and related to the town will be happy.
Our goal is to contribute to the recovery of the town of Otsuchi.
Tell the value of Hand-made culture
We strongly respect the value of hand-made craft culture with spending so much time and putting the good-heart in it in the era of “speed” and “efficiency (productivity)” with mass-production and mass-information. “Hand-Made Craft” provide us “Care” and “Mindfulness (Mental Wellness)” by thinking of other, and using our own hands.
We actually perform the handmade craft in every day and tell how previous they are throughout the project
We also value these 5 categories throughout the OSP activities
Locality (respect to Otsuchi)
OSP rooted the town of Otsuchi, and try out best to contribute to Otsuchi throughout the project.
Particularity about Hand-Stitching
We are particular about providing the hand-stitching items for those who respect the culture of hand-made crafting. We care of customers and try our best to tell the value of hand-made culture.
Encourage the Self Esteem of artisans
We encourage our artisans (Sashiko-san) to build self-esteem of what they do by providing the opportunity to improve their skill and understandings. We also respect each other who enjoy the hand-made crafting (Sashiko)
Aiming the best continuously
We continuously try our best to improve our technique and product, and we strive to provide the best Sashiko product.
Place & Community
We respect the concept of “community”, the place everyone can gather and socialize. We provide the place where Sashiko-san (the artisans) can gagther, even without any purposes, and then the customer would like to visit to meet them.
OSP Facts
Coming soon. (Confirming the lastest numbers with Otsuchi Sashiko for their 10th anniversary)
Purchase / Support the OSP
Purchase Sashiko Items from OSP
You may purchase Sashiko items, such as workman jacket and bags, that OSP provides at the Sashiko Exhibition including the one in the major department stores. You may contact me (Atsushi) if you have a specific item (or an idea of what you would like to purchase) for the detail. I am happy to provide as much information as possible. Not many products are listed online, but I believe I can provide the good amount of information for an online order.
For example, the bag below is about $350.00 in Total. ($300.00 for the bag plus shipping and handling of $50)
You will receive a card signed by the artisan (Sashiko san) who made the bag. Since everything is hand-made by the individual artisans, each item is completely one-of-a-kind.
Support by Donation to Non-Profit Organization
The OSP is managed by the certified Non-Profit Organization, Terra Renaissance.
If you wish to make a donation to the Otsuchi Sashiko, please contact me (Atsushi) for more detail. I will try to translate and connect you to the appropriate individual in the certified NPO Terra Renaissance.
Support by purchasing the thread for OSP
Keiko and Atsushi Futatsuya have been supporting the Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project by providing the thread (initially free then specially discounted price for the continuously).
Needless to say, Sashiko thread is the key material to make Sashiko products. We have the campaign to ask the general public to purchase the thread for OSP naming “supporting thread” to connect Otsuchi and Takayama (where Keiko is located). If you are interested in this campaign, please contact Atsushi for the detail. (Working on the page for this now.)
We have been enjoying to have many visitors to our very first Sashiko Exhibition in Tokyo 2018. Keiko, the Sashiko artist, stayed in the gallery on May 8th. She is very happy to meet many people with a passion for Sashiko. The Sashiko Exhibition continues until the Saturday, May 12th, 2018. With many photos which I received from my friends who visited, here is the Sashiko Exhibition Report.
So many “One of a Kind” Sashiko
One of a factor that makes us an artist is the speed of Sashiko stitching we can make. Every Sashiko is hand-stitched, of course. Every item is One of a kind, and we will not be able to create the exactly the same one. (We will try our best to create the similar one if a customer requested custom order items based on the sold item.)
Patchworked Sashiko and Vintage Fabric into one unique and beautiful bags. It is breathtaking to look at so much Sashiko stitching at once.
Traditional, Contemporary Sashiko and even Boro.
We also displayed some of Keiko’s latest Jackets, from traditional Sashiko, Contemporary Design with Sashiko, and even Boro pieces. We believe some of them are museum quality, but they are all purchasable by a customer. It is because we believe that a Sashiko item will look more beautiful when it is used in the ordinary life. It is very honored to be displayed in a museum, but at the same time, we would like to see our Sashiko items in our human’s life.
Visitors to the Sashiko Exhibition can, of course, touch, feel, and try them on to feel the stitching and its warmth.
Keiko combines many japanese traditional geometric patterns into one unique pattern. This is very traditional Sashiko jacket with keiko’s design.
When we get a good quality and size of Japanese vintage fabric, we always appreciate the people who kept these fabrics. The fabric wasn’t strong enough and had holes to make it one Jacket, but we performed Sashiko and patches to be another Jacket. This is core of Sashiko Stitching
Boro is the ultimate result of Sashiko stitching. Keiko collected all torn and worn fabrics from the past, and made it one beautiful Jacket. Boro tend to be dirty and smelly, but we try to “recreating the Boro” with following the process that the Japanese a hundred year ago did.
Every Sashiko Jacket, one stitch by one stitch. We are proud of each Sashiko items. They are simply awesome 🙂
It is a recovery project from Northeastern Earthquake in 2011 to support the Tsunami victims throughout Sashiko. Keiko and Atushi has been supporting the project since June 2011. I am planning to write an article about the Otsuchi Sashiko Project with more detail, so please wait for an update.
Over the last 6~7 years, the Sashiko skill in Otsuchi Sashiko Project imroved significantly. We are so happy to share their beautiful Sashiko works with our Sashi.Co & Keiko Futatsuya Sashiko works.
The Sashiko Jacket that Otsuchi Sashiko made with Keiko’s advise. This became a representable Sashiko art of Otsuchi Sashiko
Each person (Artisans) in Otsuchi is in charge of completing one drawstring bag. It means, every bags has different stitching size, space, and therefore they are all unique. Knowing who makes the bag is something we would like to pass down
Share this Sashiko Exhibition Report
I am honored to receive many comments that they wish they could visit the show. An international travel isn’t easy to make. However, our goal is to share our Sashiko with as many people as possible. We may be able to visit your country, city, town if someone there could invite us to have Sashiko Exhibition there (also, Sashiko workshop is an option, too)
Please share this Sashiko Exhibition Report, and let’s hope that someday we can visit your place. We sincerely would like to share these beautiful works in person. We want you to touch, feel, and enjoy what we create & what we are proud of.
Thank you for your time to read this Sashiko Exhibition Report. Keiko and Atsushi are looking forward to meeting you one day.
*We keep all the copyrights for the photos and text on this website. Please contact me if you would like to use a photo of Sashiko items on your website, SNS, and printing materials. We are happy to provide with better quality.
*I plan to update the Sashiko Exhibition Report as needed. This is version as of May 10th 2018.
I believe you have come to our website to look for the Sashiko Information. The Sashiko information you would like can be an advice on how to do Sashiko appropriately or what is the “right” way to do Sashiko Stitching. I have been receiving many questions regarding “How to do Sashiko”, and I am happy that I have been sharing what I do on Youtube, on this website, and SNS such as Instagram. The comment I made on Youtube Live Streaming on 5/2 was somewhat memorable, and here is my writing about what I truly would like to share throughout Sashiko. No more Judging your Sashiko, and No More Judging what you do.
Answers are Important, but no Judging Your Sashiko
I understand that the comprehensive direction (Answers to your questions) in crafting are very important information. Most of the questions start with either “Should I…” or “Is that okay…” for my answers. I try my best to explain what I share is merely an advise but not the answers. However, I also understand that the audience prefers the solid answers than freedom such as “you can do whatever you want.”
The website and Youtube videos are for you to find the answers to your questions instead of me giving you the solid answer full of my preferences. Once you get the solid answer, you will start judging your Sashiko with saying “This isn’t beautiful enough….” and “What am I doing wrong….”. The judging yourself is a very critical process to get better in most of the art and crafting. However, I sincerely would like to share that the Sashiko is a process of needlework with caring others, not the process of judging your Sashiko Stitching.
A machine does the perfect job. We are human, though
If I only would like to have the perfect Sashiko Stitchings, I may use a machine to make the completely even stitches. Some of the sewing machines have a computer programing built in it, so the result will be perfectly accurate. However, many people enjoy the hand-stitching Sashiko. Why? It is because that the people enjoy not only the result with human-like imperfection but also the process itself.
Since we enjoy the actual stitching, I would like you to focus on the caring part than the judging part. I understand that you cannot stop doing it, but I would like you to try that. Instead of judging how uneven the stitches are, I want you to just observe the stitching and move the next line or next project. The result will be great if you keep doing it with appreciating the process.
The process of Judging is based on the problem-solving society. It is very important to have a critical-thinking-skill to be “successful” in this society. The successful business person will analyze the situation, find the problem to be improved, then solve it. It is the necessary skill to have in business, but not in Sashiko.
Instead of trying to “fix” the problem, I want you to try “observe” it. In fact, I want you to “keep” observing it. One day, you find that not only your stitching but your mind are pretty well-ordered. This is the mindfulness of “Sashiko” and the “Slow-stitching” I call. The stitching itself doesn’t have to be slow. It is silly to just try to be slow on everything. I just want your right brain (very critical skill) to be slow a bit. At least, when you enjoy Sashiko.
When you seek answers, then you will not be mindful.
There isn’t much information you need in Sashiko. Most of them, I already provided in Youtube videos and here. You will find your own answers by being mindful, and that is the Sashiko I would like to develop from the history of Japanese and share in this world.
Grey in the middle of Black and White
Sashiko is(was) a very ordinary needlework for Japanese for the ordinary Japanese people. Therefore, culture of Sashiko is strongly related to the Japanese culture and philosophy. I would like to share many similarities of Sashiko and the Japanese culture.
The people in the 21st century, including myself, would like to categorize the “color” either black or white. After categorizing the difference, we tend to label them. In most cases, these categorization ends in dualism, pretty much “Right (Correct)” or “Wrong (Inaccurate)”.
The Japanese didn’t have the strong influence from the dualism. We believe in something in-between, so like “Grey”, to blur the conclusion. Although it isn’t the best attribute in terms of business, I find it very interesting in Sashiko stitching. Most of the questions regarding “Right Sashiko and Wrong Sashiko” comes from Western culture, not from the Japanese.
I am not saying you have to follow the Japanese philosophy. What I am trying to say here is that Sashiko is not only about stitching, but also the culture behind it. By introducing the Sashiko’s concept, I believe I can contribute to the Japanese culture, and it is the best thing I can do as a Japanese.
*I can think of many other interesting story of Sashiko & Japanese philosophy relationship. I will keep updating this entry. It will be a long one 😀
d
