Sashiko Visible Mending

... about the workshop.

Sashiko Visible Mending February, 9, 2025, Sunday. 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Bring your good reading glasses. Bring in one or two garments to assess for mending or decorating. Please no stretchy nor silky fabrics. Denim with a bit of spandex is fine. Take home kit includes a pair of Sashiko needles, tapestry needle threader, pattern instructions and colorful Sashiko threads. You will have access to other necessary materials during class. This workshop will highlight the act of mending with Sashiko Japanese Embroidery. With humble beginnings in rural Japan, Sashiko running stitch insulated work garments for warmth and longevity. Moving into contemporary times around the globe, the bold, geometric beauty of Sashiko continues to both strengthen and decorate fabrics. Visible Mending celebrates resourcefulness and sustainability by showcasing hand stitching rather than hiding it. You will learn how to patch and repair a rip or hole, reinforce a worn area, and prepare distressed textile, in order to draw a Sashiko pattern of your choice. Also, you will employ the “small stabs” Sashiko stitching technique to repair or embellish your project! "Small stabs" in the context of sashiko refers to the basic stitch used in this Japanese embroidery technique, which is essentially a long running stitch that creates a series of small, visible "stabs" on the fabric, giving the technique its name "sashiko" which literally translates to "little stabs" in Japanese. Bring in one or two garments to assess for mending or decorating. Ideally, areas to repair will be no larger than four inches. Denim garments look amazing with Sashiko stitching.  Medium-weight, woven fabrics also work well, such as cotton or linen shirts, pants, skirts, or dresses;  In addition, home goods such as napkins, tablecloths, or cotton project bags also benefit from Sashiko mending. Please no stretchy nor silky fabrics. Denim with a bit of spandex is fine. All skill levels are welcome!