A few years ago I was introduced to Sashiko and Boro after watching a documentary on mending from Japan. Intrigued I did some research found some supplies and set about learning some new to me techniques.
I really enjoy it, the slow meditative repetitive stitching quietens my mind while still allowing me to keep my hands busy. There was a period of time where I was spending quite a lot of time in waiting rooms of varying doctors and medical offices and having something to do that didn’t require complicated charts or note keeping was a special gift. The staff were also impressed at someone doing something too!
At some point I would love to go and learn from a traditional artist in Japan as I know I’m probably doing many things incorrectly or at least not best practice, I have found google translate and being able to add subtitles to YouTube videos a good way to learn from people practicing their craft everyday.
This rice bag is one of a handful I made from the same pattern. Each panel was handstitched and then the whole thing assembled by machine. The pattern was from BeBeBold and I had got a bundle of traditional fabrics to use in the pieceing but I did add my own Japanese fabrics I had picked up on trips or been given.
From memory I think I made 3 maybe 4 of these? Since they were made mine was lost in a house fire, my mums was lost in floods, one person has passed away and I think 1 may still be in use by it’s recipient. As always I value the time it took me and how much I enjoyed using that time to create and the joy of gifting them to people. The fact the bags may no be in existence is not sad just what happened.
I just wanted to include these photos here as a record of the make and the enjoyment I got from learning new things and creating.