When people ask me where to start with Sashiko, I often suggest one of these fukin (foo-keen) and tell them to pick a design they will actually finish. If you go for the super complex designs on your first try, it’s more likely you’ll get frustrated and shove it in a drawer, never to be seen again. Keep your hands happy. Make a little Sashiko Fukin (刺し子ふきん) towel, also called a hana-fukin (“flower cloth” 花ふきん) or yume-fukin (“dream cloth” 夢ふきん). I’ve selected a classic design for beginners that I think you’ll enjoy even if you’re an experienced stitcher. Here’s what I’m working on today ..read more

I’ve had four different nudges to get back into teaching over the past two weeks. Three are for shows/organizations I’ve worked with before, and one is from a friend who knows my work. I responded to the three with my usual “I’m working on it, will send info soon” response as I dodged the professional responsibility to be punctual, thoughtful, and organized. It’s the last one that got to me. My friend Judy mentioned I might get in touch with SFSNAD and see if they’d have me. She teaches there and has heard students express interest in sashiko and boro classes, which are kind of my thing. I did ..read more

The grandkids are visiting for the summer, which means I’ve been busy juggling a toddler and a bigger kid, both of whom need things to do outside. Taking this video as inspiration, I decided to go for something we could do TODAY from start to finish and see results. [YouTube video: “Indigo Dyeing with fresh indigo leaves // 生葉で藍染”] Our local soil is kind of garbage. It’s sandy, silty, and blows away in the wind, but we find ways to work with it. I ordered indigo seeds from The Dogwood Dyer several months ago and lo and behold, they worked out just fine. I started them indoors in the early spr ..read more

In the summer of 2019 I visited the Daruma Yokota thread dyeing factory in Kyoto, Japan. As our wholesale company, Orimono Imports, is a distributor for the brand and our retail shop, Kimonomomo has sold their thread for several years, I was hoping to learn more about the dyeing process and brainstorm some new ideas. In both regards, the visit was a resounding success. Kyoto is typically hot and humid in summer, so much so that I always get blisters on my feet, no matter what kind of shoes or sandals I wear. With all the walking I do it seems to be inevitable. However, I was told that inside t ..read more

Here’s my fashion tip of the season: Wear a damn mask. Yes, I’m being harsh. Why? Because I live in a region where masks are mandatory and I support that decision by our local government. If you want to debate the merits of going maskless, please don’t bother. I will remove your comment. I already know too many people who have had to deal with the long term effects of COVID-19 and several of my friends have lost family members to the virus. There are three of us living in this big, old house and we each have our own stash of masks. The first ones my husband and I bought were for the wildfires ..read more

Sashiko and Boro reference books – hard to find/out of print editions worth seeking out Three lovely books for visual and text reference. One in Japanese, and two in both English and Japanese. These are not how-to books, but beautiful resources for getting a feel for sashiko, kogin, and boro textiles in historical context. Links provided were valid on Amazon at the time I wrote this, but as these books are out of print they may not be available or may be ridiculously expensive. I’ve provided ISBN numbers for the first two you can use to search for these titles outside of Amazon ..read more

いいね (iine) = Nice! And it is a nice little project. Make it in a weekend. While one may argue that these kits aren’t really sashiko, they are definitely a happy diversion from everything else going on these days. So yes, I’m in. Here’s what you need to know about the kits so you can make one yourself. Find Olympus iine kits in our Etsy shop here When you open the package you’ll find a long piece of white cotton cloth with a pre-printed design in a 6″ square. Dotted lines show where you’ll stitch, and longer lines show where you’ll fold the fabric once the pattern is complete. The rest of the ..read more

My approach to stitching the traditional Seigaiha Wave design with variegated sashiko thread Olympus Sashiko thread colors #93, 95, 97 Closeup of colors #95 & 97 Skipping rows Stitching the curve Scored edges with a hera marking tool Backstitching to start and finish threads Skipping rows The back of the project Finished edges Done! There are many variations of Seigaiha – the ubiquitous Japanese wave design that consists of overlapping arches. Turn it upside down and you have fish or dragon scales. Add an extra line or two and you have rainbows. It’s pretty versatile and adaptable. D ..read more

Japanese clothing in historical context, including social and economic status and what they tell us about clothing This is not meant to be a comprehensive bibliography but a sample of what I have on specific topics in my reference library. Click on the book covers or titles to preview and/or purchase the books online. I make a few pennies if you purchase a copy through the link, but I always encourage people to check your local library for resources. Memories of Silk and Straw – A Self-Portrait of Small-Town Japan – by Dr. Junichi Saga, translated by Garry O. Evans This is a window on village ..read more

It’s been a long time, I know. I visited Japan with my adult children and grandson in November, 2019 right after Houston Quilt Festival, took a break from traveling in December and January, sold at Stitches West for the first time while hosting our friend Tadashi Harada from Tulip Needle Co. in Hiroshima (he was introducing some cool new knitting accessories), then I went back to Japan again in February 2020. It was eerie. Japan relies heavily on tourism from China, and by that point the Chinese were on lockdown. I visited temples and shrines, alone and with local friends, and we marveled at h ..read more