Sashiko Embroidery

Fabric making was a very laborious process. Hemp and flax were used. It was spun by hand, the weft woven and then dyed with indigo. That is why the oldest sashiko embroidery was indigo cloth with white cotton thread. No fabric was discarded, everything was repaired, reused and transformed. Conscious use of resources and gratitude towards them is a tradition in Japan.

The patch or patch was not hidden, on the contrary, the garment was transformed and the patch became the protagonist. The best cloth was sewn on top.

Each stitch of sashiko is similar to a medication. The fabric slides and the thread draws the most beautiful patterns.

The drawings symbolize good luck, prosperity, longevity and many elements of nature such as bamboo, hemp, rice, flowers, waves, turtle shells, birds, fish scales and many others.

Here are some images of work done in this embroidery technique.