handle Natural Dye Thread Cover

How to handle Natural Dye Thread & fabric

The soft color from the natural dyes is significantly different from the vivid color with chemical dyes. We enjoy the color of Natural Dye Sashiko thread, especially in a process of making “Boro” so that both fabric and thread can age – change color – together with overtime. We repeatedly tested the color stability, either if the color fades out by washing, before introducing them online. However, the Natural Dyed & Hand Dyed Sashiko thread & fabric require some attention and understanding of how to handle. The color will not be washed away by regular care for the natural dye. However, we do not recommend to throw them to the washing machine with detergent (which may have kind of “bleach” in it). Here, we introduce how to handle Natural Dye Thread and Fabric.


“Don’t” do list | Handle Natural Dye Thread with care.

First of all, please never use “Bleach” in washing and to handle Natural Dye thread. One wash with bleach may (and most likely “will”) completely wash away the natural color and make it bright white. The bleach is strong enough to do its job – to make it bright white.

The point we have to pay attention here is that some of “regular detergent” may contain the same chemical as the bleach in it. For example, if a detergent say “stain removal”, then the detergent may be too strong for the Natural Dye color.

Also, putting the Natural Dye thread and fabric in the water with detergent for a long time is not a good idea. The more time the color touches the detergent, the more color may be washed away.


Do list | How to well Handle Natural Dye Thread

Generally speaking, the natural dye doesn’t go well with the chemical detergent. In need of using the detergent, please choose the “Neutral Detergent”. Although it is quite easy to find them in Japan, I do not find the neutral detergent easily in the US (we can find them but quite expensive). In that case, please try to find the “gentle” or “soft” detergent and make sure to test the thread and fabric if the color will be washed out or not. In my experience, most of the color will stay on unless the detergent is “gentle” and washed gently. However, as a baseline, please handle Natural Dye thread with maximum Care.


Super beautiful color from nature. Although the core enjoyment of natural dye is to enjoy the color change, it is so sad to lose the color.

Summary of Do and Don’t

Do:

  • Hand-wash with no detergent. Or gentle wash with Neutral Detergent.

Don’t:

  • Using Bleach, or strong detergent which may contain Bleach.
  • Machine wash with long-cycle (or extra wash cycle).
  • Leave the thread or fabric in water (with detergent) for a long time.


Understand the reaction process

It is probably difficult to find a “Natural Dye” items in the mass-produced market. It is because the process of natural-dye requires a lot of attention and care. The color from nature will not stay on the thread or fabric by dipping them into a vat. It isn’t like a watercolor, putting paint on the paper.

The natural color stays on the thread and fabric by chemical reaction with a catalyst. We usually use the metal, such as iron or copper, to make the reaction happen. In another example, the Authentic Japanese Indigo Dye (Hon-Aizome), they use the oxidation process to create such a beautiful blue. The fabric and thread right after dipped in the vat looks somewhat “gray” or “brown”. In a process of oxidation (touching the air that contains oxygen), the beautiful Japanese blue comes out.

The chemical reaction doesn’t mean using chemical materials. Here, chemical reaction equals to Oxidation and Reduction. Vinegar will make the liquid more acidic and ash (such as wood ash) make the water more alkalinity. Either of acidic and alkalinity affects the balance of Natural Dye and could end up with washing out the color or changing the color.

Therefore, we strongly recommend using natural detergent, or just water.


The natural dye before the Industrial Revolution

One of the big reasons we use the Natural Dye thread is to recreate the beauty of Japan in hundreds of years ago – before the industrial revolution. Back then, in Japan, they did not have the chemical (artificial) detergent or bleach to wash the fabric. They did not have a washing machine either.

Instead, they washed the fabric and thread by hands with care (attention). I hope you would do the same when you handle Natural Dye thread and fabric.

By the way, this is my personal endnote (which may contradict what I had written so far). Anyhow, I DO wash my Sashiko Stitched Denim with the gentle detergent in a washing machine… I had washed probably more than 100 times over 1~2 years, but I can still see the thread color. The yellow from mountain peach looks more like white, but it still has yellowish color (I believe). I always wash it separately, with a gentle cycle of the washing machine, with a small amount of detergent as I feel. I sometimes do not add the detergent, but at some point, the jeans get smelly that we need some detergent… I hope you can find your own way to handle Natural Dye thread and fabric.


Shop our Natural Dye Sashiko Thread

Best Cotton Fabric for Sashiko // Indigo Dye

SCR_100
$49.00
In stock
1
Product Details

I say any kind of fabric can be used for Sashiko. However, it doesn't mean "whatever is good". We do have very specific preference. The tightness, weight, thread, all of the consists of fabric affect the experience of Sashiko stitching. This is the best cotton fabric for Sashiko that we use for our daily crafting & stitching.


【Story of this Cotton Fabric】

We used to carry one specific Indigo Dye Sashiko Fabric (cotton 100%) that we used for pretty much all of the projects. The supply package for the workshop included the Indigo Dye Sashiko Fabric. In the winter of 2020, we received very unfortunate news that the fabric we completely depended on would not be manufactured any longer - another sad and unfortunate outcome of today's society.

Keiko and I spend good half-year to find the replacement. It has to bring a stitcher the "comfortableness" so that we can focus on running stitch (Unshin - 運針). Thanks to many support from our friends & artisans in Japan, we found a manufacture who can take over the production, and we have been testing to stitch on it. Now, we are ready to say "It is t he best fabric for Sashiko".

*In comparison to the previous fabric, this new fabric (SCR_100) is a bit "tighter". In general, the quality of fabric can be considered better when it is tightly and nicely woven. We feel it is a bit "better quality" as well in comparison to the previous fabric. However, as I mentioned above, we believe this fabric will bring the very similar experience.

If you are interested in the product description of previous fabric, please check this PDF.


【Product Option As of 2022】


  • Our BEST Cotton Fabric for Sashiko (SCR_100): Pricing by 24 inch / 61 cm or 1 yard. If you purchase 1 unit, I will send you a sheet of fabric of about 24" x 44.1 inch or 1 yard x the width.
  • The width of fabric is about 44 inch.
  • I prepared Cut fabrics for both sizes of 12" x 11" and 25" x 11" for more reasonable pricing & sampling. Sizes are best estimate since they are hand-cut.
  • The Previous Cotton Fabric Trial: We once custom-made the similar fabric to match the previous Fabric. However, it is too costly to carry it as regular items & the dye is not as stable as the previous one. It also has some shinny look. Pricing by 24 inch / 61 cm. If you purchase 1 unit, I will send you a sheet of fabric of about 24"+ x 44.1 inch - very limited amount is available. (For this fabric, we would recommend washing it before stitching if possible, since the color may/will come out more in comparison to the other fabrics).

*The previous fabric is now all gone from our shelves. Thank you for your support. If you would need the exact same fabric, please contact Atsushi so that we can check it in Japan. We cannot promise anything, but we will do our best to find the left-over.


[Product Information]


  • Cotton 100%
  • The width of fabric is About 112cm (about 44.1 inch).
  • Woven, Dyed and Made in Japan
  • Indigo Dyed

*1 - In order to enjoy the rhythm and wisdom of Sashiko, we strongly recommend in using the thread specifically designed for Sashiko.

*2 - This fabric is NOT Hon-Aizome (本藍染)as the authentic Japanese Natural Indigo Dye. If you would like to purchase one, please contact me. I can arrange the order. It is expensive for us to carry as the inventory.


【Other Notes for this Sashiko Fabric】


What is Good Fabric for Sashiko Stitching?

It is going to be very long discussion to define what is "good fabric" for the Sashiko Stitching. I have been talkinga about it on SNS and Youtube. As a quick summary, here is a check list for choosing good fabric for Sashiko

  • Good thickness to practice on how to use a needle and a thimble in appropriate way.
  • Good weight and softness to enjoy the rhythm
  • The color that satisfy your project.

You should choose the fabric based on your project goal. Unlike the Sashiko thread (*1), we can use any kind of fabric based for Sashiko stitching. Here, on this website, we introduce one of the most common (yet very good quality) fabric. A combination of Indigo Dyed fabric and white thread is the traditional Sashiko stitching.

*1 Sashiko Thread Matter: (Youtube Video).

*What is Suitable Fabric for Sashiko? : https://upcyclestitches.com/suitable-fabric-for-sa...


The fabrics we offer here have a good thickness and softness for Sashiko stitching. We use this fabric to many our projects as well as for the workshops Atsushi provides. If you are a graduate of Sashiko Workshop / Online Sashiko Class, this is the fabric you used on learning Sashiko.

  • If you take Atsushi's Class in 2021, the fabric you used is the previous one (Sashi.Co Reg - out of Stock & discontinued)
  • If you take Atsushi's Class after 2022, the faric may be this one (SCR_100). This fabric is as good as (very similar) as the previous Sashi.Co Reg. One.
Usually, there is no need to wash the fabric for the aligning purpose before you start stitching. However, if you are planning to stitch the very edge (like less than 1-inch from the edge) for Sashiko purpose, you may be careful to check the aligance. (There is no need to wash it for the tailering purpose).
The color of Indigo may/will come out a bit for the first few washing. Please hand-wash gently for the firest few times without other fabrics to avoid the color contamination. After you confirm no color comes out, you may wash with other cloths as well (I use washing machine after several washing). As long as the thread we offer is used, the indigo color from the fabric will not change the white color on the thread drastically in regular washing.

Save this product for later

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.