Sashiko!
About 18 months ago I bought a couple of Sashiko panels from a stand at the Scottish Quilt show at Ingliston.
I started one of them straight away but didn’t get very far. After having done a fair bit of embroidery using a hoop I initially found it difficult not using one. You can’t use a hoop with these panels (at least not without a lot of hassle) as the design is printed so close to the edge.
So I put it away in the UFO pile.
Until this summer when I was packing for Fat Quarterly Retreat and needed some light portable projects for the train journey to London. This time I started enjoying the Sashiko and the panel started filling up quicker than I expected. It’s always nice to feel you are making progress!
I continued stitching at the Retreat itself and finished the first panel when I got home.
Now these panels come complete with a backing attached so that you can quickly and easily make them into a little cushion (which as you know I am in dire need of!).
But then my youngest son, Jacob, saw the panel and expressed some positive feelings towards it!!
Jacob has little (or actually no) interest in quilting or any other of my numerous crafts. He should have had a 21st birthday quilt made for him over a year ago, but I couldn’t find anything he liked enough to make! So I abandoned the idea until he gets himself a wife (or husband, I’m not fussy) who might show some interest.
But Jacob liked the Sashiko! So I made the second panel and showed him that too. He still liked it!! “Would you like a quilt made of Sashiko panels?” I asked him. Yes, he said, and actually sounded relatively enthusiastic!
It’s hardly surprising as he loves all things Japanese.
So when I was at the Festival of Quilts, I tracked down the people who sell the panels and all things Sashiko ‘Euro Japan Links’ and bought another 4 panels plus more thread.
I am thinking of using the blank side to create my own designs with subjects personal to Jacob, such as characters from Studio Ghibli films. Obviously this will be a long term project. But I’ve started my third and am still loving the stitching!
There's a couple of books written by Susan Briscoe about sashiko, one being a sourcebook of patterns, if that's of help,
What a brilliant idea, Jo! And it will look so graphic and striking. Very cool-young-man-ish.
brilliant plan, they're so striking.
They look amazing and perfect for a man! Your stitches are beautiful! I have a book and thread but have yet to take the plunge! Panels sound like a good way to start.
So pretty, and enthusiasm is not to be sniffed at!
Beautiful! Lovely stitching.
Hi Jo. These look fantastic. I really like how different parts of the pattern stand out as your eyes adjust. I made a shashiko quilt after my son visited Japan. I scaled various designs to fit in my blocks. You can see it here http://wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.co.nz/p/sashiko.html
Jo – your panel is stunning. I am currently making a Patchique Japanese patchwork and applique quilt and I think some Sashiko will look good as an extra to some of the applique blocks. Thank you Jo. I look forward to seeing Jacob's finished quilt.
These panels are amazing, it would be lovely to finish a quilt by using the embroidery! Cannot wait to see how the quilt progresses
What a great idea – the navy lends itself to boy quilts! I bought a kit at the same show at the same time – maybe I'll dig mine out too!
I love your panels! I made a quilt from sashiko squares (using the Susan Briscoe book for the patterns) and loved making it!
I bought that first panel a couple of weeks ago at the quilt show I was at and an interesting sashiko thimble and barely started it. I am going to finish it now that I see how lovely it looks. Have you figured out how to use the thimbles for this?
Oh yay I'm so pleased your son has finally taken an interest in quilting and wants his own quilt!! It's going to be gorgeous. (do you have/sell any panels, I would love to purchase one). I hope I get to see it for myself :-))
It is great that there is something he finally likes. Before I started sewing I had done cross stitch for years and my husband didn't like it at all but he is more than happy to have cushions and quilts around. Lovely designs too, although I am surprised just how close to the edge the pattern goes. x
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