NEW SASHIKO SAMPLER arriving at the end of May! Now available for PRE ORDER. NB - if pre orders are included with other items, your order will be delayed shipping until the new item(s) arrive(s).
Another three panels have been added to the hitomezashi (one stitch sashiko) range! These beautiful designs present intricate to mark yet easy to stitch designs, giving you new patterns to explore and develop your sashiko stitching.
This pre printed sashiko sampler panelfrom Olympus Thread Mfg. Co. is called a 'hanafukin' (which literally means 'flower cloth') in Japanese. It is printed in grey on white narrow width traditional sarashi cloth (an easy to stitch traditional Japanese cotton cloth). Also available in indigo blue. Each panel is supplied in one piece with a plain area the same size attached, because they are designed to be stitched through both layers and the edges turned in to make a little cloth, but you can stitch the printed layer separately and make them into various other items, such as bags, cushions or quilt panels. They also look great framed.
The traditiona Yoshiwara-tsunagi (linked Yoshiwara pattern) (first photo) is easy to stitch as you just stitch straight diagonal lines, first in one direction and then the other, which form the pattern where they meet. Yoshiwara-tsunagi (吉原繋ぎ) has linked squares which form a chain-like shape. One of the traditional Japanese good fortune patterns known as Kissho Monyo, it's name originates from the Yoshiwara pleasure district in Edo (old Tokyo) over 250 years ago. It was used for the curtains used in the tebiki-chaya ('tea houses' that introduced customers to courtesans). Originally, the pattern reflected the fact that it was difficult for people to leave the Yoshiwara, but nowadays it has a nicer meaning, representing good connections between people and positive relationships, both in work and private life.
I am awaiting thread quantities for these new designs, but guess that this will use at least one 80m ball of fine sashiko thread or a 100m skein of medium sashiko thread. You can choose from my extensive range of sashiko threads, by type or by colour.
Sarashi cloth is quite lightweight compared with other sashiko fabrics, but is very easy to stitch, super absorbent and wears well. It is one of the fabrics traditionally used for kimono underwear!
Finished size approx 13in (33cm) square.
Marks wash out.
Designed and made by Olympus Thread Mfg. Co. in Japan.
100% cotton.
