Japanese stitch technique Sashiko 刺し子

Another mending technique!!

The other day I posted how I mended my tank top with a hole, using crochet. Today, I want to share traditional Japanese way of mending or strengthening your clothe with decorative design.

Long time ago, for common people clothing were valuable and expensive belonging.
When there was a hole, put a small piece of fabric to patch them.
Then, simple patching evolved to more beautiful and artful application!

There are many motifs or design patterns to choose from. Even freehand is easily done.
If you just want to make your jeans or bags more interesting, this could be it!!
Here is something that I made.

Source @naomipangolin

This was a plain blue tie.
As you can see, it looks more interesting now!!

And you also can see this technique is basically stitching a linear geometric shape.

Things you need is a thick thread. To emphasize stitches, choose thread for embroidery or double the jeans thread.
And needle large enough to get those thread through.

Fabrics, I used anything except polyester, rayon and silk. I feel thicker and natural fabric looks better and suites with the stitches.

source @naomipangolin

Other material could be graph sheets to draw patterns and one sided tracing paper to transfer it to the fabric.
If you want freehand design, then no need of these sheets. Draw the lines directly with marking tool that is water soluble.

The patterns I referred this book. ISBN 4-529-03044-x

Source @naomipangolin