Sun, Sea & Sashiko

Well not quite sea, but it was a salt water pool at The Four Seasons in Austin, Texas during my travels at the end of April.  Best of all posting the above pic to Instagram gained me several hearts and this fab cupcake and note complimenting my stitching when I returned to my room.

I love Sashiko - I'm totally obsessed with it these days when I'm travelling.

I've only been doing it since last July when my great friend Emily gave me some Sashiko supplies that had belonged to her recently passed twin sister Barbara, it means a lot to me to have them and gives me a really special feeling for Sashiko.  After about three stitches I was totally hooked and haven't stopped since. 

If you haven't come across Sashiko before it's the Japanese term for a simple running stitch meaning 'little stabs'.  Sashiko stitches are even in length with about 5-8 stitches/inch and the top stitch:gap ratio being about 2:1.  

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This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs to links shared.

If you're looking for a really easy introduction into this technique do what I do and use a wash away pre-printed fabric - this particular design is called Kakinohana by Olympus and I pick up all my Sashiko supplies from Easy Piecing, owned by my friend Susan Sato.

Here's another white piece I'm half way through stitching alongside the next piece I'll be working on - the indigo one; just look how detailed that design is but it's just running stitch worked horizontally, vertically and on the two diagonals.

Working all the running stitches in one direction this is how my current project looks when the first direction's stitches are complete.

Normally you stitch through one layer of the sampler fabric or through the two layers provided - personally, I like to slip a piece of cotton batting between the two layers and create a quilt sandwich, I'm such a sucker for that quilty look!  TIP: Sewing Sashiko through batting means you have to replace your needle more often - usually I use a new needle for each project.

An unexpected side effect for me of doing Sashiko using these pre-printed fabrics with a batting layer has been that my hand quilting has improved greatly - when I'm doing hand quilting now my quilt stitching is more even than before and my confidence has grown and I know it's because I've developed a running stitch rhythm using these Sashiko samplers.

And now I'm working my way back across the fabric with running stitches in the opposite direction and just look how the pattern is developing - how clever is that?!!!  It's so simple yet looks super intricate and impressive.

I don't worry about my stitches being perfect -  the batting distorts the fabric quite a bit and I sew a lot on planes where it's impossible to be 100% accurate during taking off and landing and gives you something to focus on if turbulence isn't your thing! - and I'm sewing for pleasure, not for the Quilt Police.

Another trip away should easily see this sampler complete, I might have to take another project with me just in case. 

I'm also in love with another version of running stitch called Kantha from India/Bangladesh so I'm thinking of making a quilt combining this piece with other Sashiko samplers I've sewn and various Japanese and Indian fabrics I've been collecting.  

This quilt is def a developing work in progress.

Recently I tore the handle section of a bag that my daughter, Flicky, bought for me and I was really disappointed as it's a favourite and I'm not ready to let it go yet.  Look how I've repaired it!!!  I'm really thrilled with how it looks and it makes it more personal now too.

Have I made you want to grab a needle and thread and reacquaint yourself with running stitch?

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Linky Parties This post may be linked to some great Linky Parties, always a great source of inspiration too.  If you click through to my 'Fave Linky Parties'  page you can see where I like to share my work.