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This sashiko cotton fabric from Olympus Thread Mfg. Co.  is boldly printed with eight traditional sashiko patterns in 3mm long gold dashes on tetsu kon iro (iron blue), an ultra dark blue that is almost but not quite black.  The gold lines wash out. All you have to do is stitch.

From top left, the patterns are - shippō (seven treasures - interlocking circles), jūji tsunagi (linked crosses), asanoha (hemp leaf - printed sideways on the panel), nowaki ('grasses'); second row - fundō (scale weights), segaiha (ocean wave - simplified version), hishi shippō (diamond shippo, stitched the same way as the curved version), and yabane (arrow feather). Photos 3 to 8 show the stitching sequence. For asanoha, the fifth photo shows the traditional stitching sequence, as taught by sashiko teacher Yoshimi Arakawa in Yuza-machi in the 1990s. The horizontal lines in the pattern are stitched last, and the thread is simply stranded across the back of the work where it jumps from one side of the hemp leaf centre diamond to the other. Each pattern measures 27 x 30cm approx.

 

The fabric is smooth and strong, not textured like Azumino or Kofu Tsumgui, or thin like the soft, absorbent sarashi cotton used for the sashiko sampler hanafukin (flower cloth) series, so it is suitable for all kinds of projects where extra durability is wanted, such as home dec, like cushions and placemats, or hard wearing bags and wearables. The colour is a darker blue than the 5mm 'just dots' grid fabric in dark blue, although the weave is the same.

It may be stitched as a whole 60cm panel, or cut into pieces - however you like. Because the lines wash out, you could also try drawing a circle, a fan, flower or other large scale shape in each section, outlining it with sashiko thread and only stitching the pattern in the middle of the shape.

More than one 60cm panel repeat will be sent as one piece of fabric. There are no gaps between the panels on the bolt - it is printed as a continuous pattern. Fabric ordered will be sent as one continous length whenever possible - if this is essential for your project, please ask when you order. Maximum length on bolt is 8 panels.

 

110cm wide (the printed design covers approx. 105cm of the total width, with a plain band along the selvedge on both sides).

Any sashiko thread would look wonderful for stitching this design. It would also suit being stitched with a doubled sashiko thread for an extra bold, traditional look, and I would definitely use any fine sashiko thread doubled for maximum impact. The stitch lengths about 4mm, fractionally longer than the ones on my sashiko panels.

 

100% cotton

 

Made in Japan by Olympus Thread Mfg. Co.

 

#11 sashiko 8 patterns ultra dark blue panel 60cm

£16.00Price