Dear all

I think it might have been Meitou who shared with me the practice of Sashiko stitching and this is something I have been working with during lockdown, making a cushion cover: https://postimg.cc/gwQ3pQFG

The stitching itself is pretty much the same as we use for a Rakusu but instead following geometric patterns. For the cushion I used this book but there are plenty of websites of patterns and projects: https://postimg.cc/D8xgDCZw

The pattern itself is achieved by drawing a grid on the fabric with tailor's chalk: https://postimg.cc/H84MQLJL

After sharing this with my Japanese American friend Cristina, who is a huge crafter (well, she is actually quite small but you get what I mean!), she told me about Boro patchwork, which was used in 19th and 20th century Japan to repair clothes and other textiles with small scraps of fabric before, sadly, repaired items started to be view more as shameful than a noble tradition of using what you have.

Anyway, this seems to be returning in popularity as a craft, and even in high fashion.

I made a small needle case: A B C D

And tote bag: https://postimg.cc/XpLFqpSH

Heidi Iverson at Honey Folk Clothing provides a free pattern for making a small drawstring bag: https://www.honeyfolkclothing.com/sh...-pouch-pattern


Anyway, just some ideas for crafters out there who I am sure will outdo me in terms of their efforts. At present I am trying to think of more practical projects.


Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-