One for the intermediate sashiko stitchers who are looking for something a bit more absorbing and challenging than our regular range of hanafukin panels. This pre printed sashiko sample panel from Olympus Thread Mfg. Co. is called a 'hana fukin' (which literally means 'flower cloth') in Japanese. It is printed in grey on white narrow width traditional sarashi cloth (an easy to stitch traditional Japanese cotton cloth). Each panel is supplied in one piece with a plain area the same size attached, because they are designed to be stitched through both layers and the edges turned in to make a little cloth (as shown in the fourth photo), but you can stitch the printed layer separately and make them into various other items, such as bags, cushions or quilt panels. They also look great framed.
This gorgeous new design, with the paterns arranged in bands, combines three different styles of sashiko - the tops and bottom bands with a delightful snowflake pattern in hitomezashi (one stitch sashiko, where the pattern is stitched in straight intersecting lines vertically and on both diagonals), narrow bands stitched with kugurezashi (literally 'go through' or woven sashiko, where a second thread is woven through a grid of stitches), and a central section with a variation on the moyouzashi pattern sashiko) masuzashi (square measuring box stitch).
There are four different sampler designs in this collection - Snowflake, Petunia, Kasumisou (gypsophila), and Kinmokusei (osmanthus) - and they are available as complete kits (on coloured fabrics - third photo), or as panels only (white or colours -first and second photos, with the kugurezashi woven threads shown in red).
This listing is for the panel only, so you can select your own sashiko threads. These panels are great for using up oddments of threads left over from other sashiko projects, combining various shades that harmonise well, or you can choose from my extensive range of sashiko threads, by type or by colour.
Instructions are in Japanese, but with excellent diagrams, so you don't really need to be able to understand the text, and you can use the Google Translate phone app to 'read' them for you if you wish.
Sarashi cloth is quite lightweight compared with other sashiko fabrics, but is very easy to stitch, super absorbent and wears well. It is one of the fabrics traditionally used for kimono underwear!
Please note, I would suggest that a little sashiko stitching or other embroidery experience is advisable before tackling one of these panels. I would rate the skill level as intermediate.
Finished size approx 13in (33cm) square.
Marks wash out.
Designed and made by Olympus Thread Mfg. Co. in Japan.
100% cotton.
