Tag: Japanese embroidery

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Sewing Adventures – Sashiko Kinchaku or Rice Bag

For some time now ‘ve been enjoying the meditative quality of sashiko stitching. It’s enjoyable and fun to embrace the joy of stitching with the knowledge that it doesn’t have to be perfect to work. Mostly I use pre printed panels to stitch on as they make it even easier to be a project you can take with you anywhere. Upside is ease, downside is what to do with the panels once they have been stitched?

So far I’ve turned panels into placemats, coasters and now I’ve combined pre printed panels and boro stitching together to make a kinchaku or rice bag.

The original pattern is from BeBeBold and meant to be quite a bit smaller than the one here. But I didn’t want to cut down my pre printed panels so I supersized the pattern to create this.

Construction wise it’s a square bottom and 4 rectangular sides (same for the lining) all sewn together and pulled through an opening in the lining to end up fully lined. After closing the internal opening up these nifty little plastic hooks were added to the outside. The plastic has a U shape that slides down over the top edge of the fabric. A metal nail is then inserted into the hole of the plastic hook, through the fabric, through another hole on the other side of the plastic hook and out again. Bashing it down and flat with a mallet ensured it stays in place and there is no pointy bit to scratch your hands as you enter and exit the bag.

Waxed cotton cord is then thread through from either end to create a double sided drawcord. It really was a super simple make and I love the final shape it’s so lovely. I can’t wait to make some more!

Pattern: from BeBe Bold

Fabrics: Sashiko panels and mixed indigo pack, waxed cord and plastic loops from BeBe Bold. Japanese cat fabric (internal) from Pitt Trading

Alterations: this is a super big bag and I think I’d like to make one in a smaller size too?

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Sewing Adventures – Sashiko placemats

Some friends just bring light into your life and CL aka Claire Louise The Thrifty Stitcher is one of the best. Separated by distance we still try to chat via messenger and she does wonderful things like send me video messages on the morning of my surgery last year or listened to me cry about losing most of my stash to the fire we suffered in December. Being the ace person she is, she organised for a gift voucher to BeBeBold so I could get myself some Japanese embroidery supplies.

It was such a touching and thoughtful gift and I wanted to make sure I remembered not only her kindness but the kindness and support of the entire sewing community by making something we could use everyday and be thankful for those who helped.

I ordered some pre printed panels and sashiko thread. I got them delivered to Pitt Trading as we have no postal address to send anything to and have been in almost 10 different locations while awaiting our apartment to be ready to move back in. These panels have been stitched in all of those locations with the aim of turning them into placemats, pot holders and useful everyday pieces that are beautiful and sentimental.

Once stitched I’ve cut the panels out, added a heat proof wadding and Japanese print backing (both picked up at HobbySew Top Ryde while purchasing replacement machines). Placed right sides together with the wadding onto of the embroidered panel I stitched around, clipped the corners and turned them right way round through a small hole I’d left on one side. Once the corners were nicely pointed I stitched the width of a machine foot in around the entire rectangle, topstitched the opening closed and then practiced quilting by drawing different lines using my Prym chalk tool across the backs and stitching through all layers.

They turned out even better than expected and when showing a friend she exclaimed they were too beautiful to be put to practical use and should be displayed. But I love the idea of being surround by beautiful meaningful things and these are special to me on so many levels. a gift from a wonderful friend, hours of meditative stitching in what has been an incredibly stressful time and now we have something to add to our home.

These are the first 5 finished and I still have some more panels in varying sizes to go so am keen to find more practical and beautiful ways to use them, the red teapot was at one of the places we have staid this year and matched in so well it made the perfect photo prop.

Pattern: pre printed panels from BeBeBold

Fabric: from BeBeBold and Hobbysew Top Ryde

Alterations: none that I can think of right now

 

 

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Sewing Adventures: Sashiko Panels

Having started doing Sashiko stitching earlier in the year, I find that I want to keep doing more. I picked up some pre printed panels from etsy and BeBe Bold.


Having them pre printed feels like cheating and then you realise just how wonderful it is to have them pre printed. It’s so easy and means you can just follow along. So simple and so enjoyable.

Perfect for when you feel like doing something but don’t actually have time or brain power to do anything complicated. I did plenty of these while I was just out of hospital.

So far I’ve just completed the stitching on the panels, I want to turn them into something useful but as yet haven’t decided what? Am slightly concerned that I should’ve stitched through both layers but couldn’t find out if that was I was meant to do or not? Suggestions welcome.