These pre printed panels from Olympus Thread Mfg. Co. are called 'hanafukin' with literally means 'flower cloth'. This one printed in grey on white 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) and make the panel up as a cushion, a bag or whatever you like. NB - with white or light coloured hanafukin, very dark or bright threads might shadow through the fabric slightly.
This is a modern hitomezashi (one stitch sashiko) pattern. Stitch with a single strand of medium or fine sashiko thread. Marking a complex pattern like sakura no hana (chrysanthemum flower) over a larger area takes time, but with this cloth, you are ready to stitch straight away. Kits contain a stitching guide (in Japanese) but it is pictorial and very easy to follow. Just keep your lines straight and stitch all the horizontal lines first, then the two different diagonals one after the other. Lines are stitched back and forth across the panel.Make a stitch where there is a line on the fabric and leave a gap in between. All the lines are straight - you don't wiggle them around the flowers!
To stitch sakura no hana all over this panel, I recommend two 100m skein of medium sashiko thread, or eight 20m skeins of medium sashiko thread, two 80m ball of fine sashiko thread, or one 370m skein of fine sashiko thread (one of these would do several hitomezashi hana fukin), stitched as a single strand. Fine sashiko thread will, of course, give a more delicate effect. This is a very dense pattern and uses a lot of thread.
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.
Also available in pink.
It is advisable not to press the printed area with a hot iron before stitching, as marks may resist washing out.
Designed and made by Olympus Thread Mfg. Co. in Japan.
100% cotton.
