These pre printed panels from Olympus Thread Mfg. Co. are called 'hana fukin' with literally means 'flower cloth'. They are printed in grey on indigo blue coloured narrow width traditional sarashi cloth (an easy to stitch traditional Japanese cotton cloth). 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 (as I often do).
The dots are spaced 5mm apart on a isometric (triangular) grid (please see separate listing for the square grid hana fukin). The idea is that you use these dots like the crossing points on a grid, to stitch hitomezashi (one stitch) sashiko patterns - there are many of these in my book, 'The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook'. 5mm, or a scant quarter inch, is the perfect spacing for stitching with either a single strand of medium sashiko thread or a doubled fine sashiko thread. Marking a grid over a larger area takes time, but with this cloth, you are ready to stitch straight away. Ideal for patterns involving triangles or hexagons, like kagome (bamboo basket) shown left.
You can use the dotted grid to draw your own patterns before starting to stitch too! See third photo -
Use a 5mm grid notebook or similar to decide on a design you like.
Stitch one direction at a time along the design.
Use a ruler to draw the design you have decided on with a chalk pen.
This video from Olympus shows you how!
Also ideal with hitomezashi sashiko sample books, like those by sashikonami. Using colourful threads to stitch white hanafukin sashiko samplers is very popular in Japan right now. The floral design in the last photo is from 'Hibi no Sashiko Komono', which has many new hitomezashi sashiko patterns, as well as some interesting twists on traditional patterns.
To stitch a hitomezashi pattern all over this panel, I recommend a 100m skein of medium (6ply) sashiko thread, of five or more 20m skeins of medium sashiko thread. One 370m skein of fine 4ply sashiko thread (one of these would do at least two hitomezashi hana fukin) or an 80m ball of fine 3ply sashiko thread would give a more delicate touch. You could go multicoloured, with the miniskeins pack of fine 3ply sashiko thread too. Exactly how much thread you need depends on the stitch you choose - because some patterns have more lines than others.
Sarashi cloth is quite lightweight compared with other sashiko fabrics, but is very easy to stitch (even if you decide to go traditional and stitch through two layers), 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. NB - the marks have less contrast than my pre printed sashiko panels. The fabric is indigo colour, not natural indigo, so the colour won't run.
Designed and made by Olympus Thread Mfg. Co. in Japan.
100% cotton.
