Tag: Sashiko

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Sashiko and Boro Rice Bags

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.

 

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Wonderfully useful Hana Fukin Sashiko cloths

These Hana Fukin Sashiko cloths have been in heavy use since I finished stitching them.
I can’t remember where I got these exact ones, it was either from our last trip to Japan or from @bebebold where I get many of Sashiko supplies from.
They were a delight to stitch, wonderfully meditative and now I use them to wrap my bento in before I pop it in my backpack to take to work. Makes a fantastic mini tablecloth or napkin while I’m having my lunch.
Highly recommended if you need something to stitch that keeps your hands busy without taking a huge amount of concentration.
 
Supplies: pre printed Hana Fukin cloth, sashiko thread, sashiko needle
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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 cloths or Hana Fukin

Ever made anything where you weren’t entirely sure what it is you were making? that’s the situation I found myself in with these sashiko cloths. I ordered them from a Japanese site with only minimal translation. I thought I was purchasing pre printed sashiko panels…which I was. These ones are a little different, the fabric is slightly lighter weight and the print has an extra panel off to one side that was printed with Japanese instructions.

Using Google translate I tried to read the instructions and couldn’t not make head nor tail of it. So instead of you know looking things up and getting expert advice I blindly waded on in with stitching. In hindsight I wish I had figured it out better but as it is it’s not a huge issue just more a case of not being correct which vexes me and I feel I’m being disrespectful to the beautiful work of the Japanese stitchers who make these.

The cloths are actually Hana Fukin which translates as flower cloth or kitchen cloth according to the research I’ve done so far (this is by no means extensive and I may have got it wrong). It indicates a soft useful cloth normally with a flower design stitched on it that is used a cleaning/polishing/useful everyday cloth.

Because I got my instructions wrong I stitched the cloth first before folding it right side together, stitching around it on my machine then turning it right side out before stitching the turning hole closed. It works even though I’m fairly sure I did it wrong.

Despite my misunderstanding they were a joy to stitch and are actually wonderfully useful in the kitchen, I tend to use them as a napkin replacement good for wiping fingers when they get sticky etc. Like many of my other sashiko pieces it’s incredibly joyful to have beautiful pieces to use everyday because there is no sense in only keeping the beauty for “good”.

Fabric – pre printed panel bought randomly on the internet and now can’t find again but similar ones can be found at BeBeBold

Pattern – pre printed but next time I’m going to find out the correct way to do them

Changes – get better at translating instructions

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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.

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Sewing Adventures – Boro repair

This week has been the pits, I’ve caught a cold from The Englishman and we’ve both been ill since Sunday. The only brightside being at least we are both sick and gross together and it’s not just one of us having to put up with the other being sick.
Naturally all my sewing plans have gone utterly out the window as I’ve been sleeping most days.
Yesterday I wanted to do something so I thought I would tackle a repair job that has been a long time waiting.

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This is the top half of a Jin-bei set we bought on our last trip to Japan. Made from a yarn dyed Shijira fabric it is lightweight with a slight crinkle to the hand feel. The Englishman loves it as it’s so lightweight perfect for wearing about the house in hot weather.
Sadly the back ripped and it got put aside to be fixed, then adopted by the cat as a sleeping mat and there it has been for way too long.

Using some scrap pieces of Japanese fabrics and a piece of Shibori scrap I had leftover from another project, I cut swatches to cover the holes.

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Using a crochet thread I started stitching the swatches into place using a Sashiko style stitch.

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I even did some horizontally just to see how it would look? And naturally the cat needed to come and inspect my work.

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The finished repair.

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Now how it looks as part of the overall garment.

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Am so glad it could be salvaged and I’m slightly hoping it will tear somewhere else so I can add some more Boro repair to it.