Now with English instructions and has been renamed ‘kinomi’ (nuts) - ! I still think it looks more like ‘nanten’ (Nandina) berries, which are a Japanese winter motif, associated with December. The fourth and fifth photos show nandina, also called Heavenly Bamboo in English, in the garden at Nezu Museum, Tokyo. Although I only just found out that they are also highly toxic to wildlife! Probably best to stitch them, rather than have them in your garden.
These pre printed panels from Olympus are called 'hana fukin' with literally means 'flower cloth'. They are printed in grey on indigo blue coloured 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, but you can stitch the printed layer separately (as I have done).Thread requirements - The (1) on the label indicates that to stitch this all in one colour, just one skein of 20m sashiko thread is needed, but they look great stitched in multicolours too.
I stitched this panel with 20m Olympus Thread Mfg. Co. sashiko thread #95 for the leaves with either #93 for the berries (second photo), originally to use as a cushion pane, but I now want to combine it with other panels to make a wall hangings. It also looks lovely stitched in one colour. I used the sashiko threads doubled for a bolder effect, apart from the leaf veins, berry stalks and tendrils where it is a single thread for a more delicate contrast. It will be bordered and backed with one of the Olympus striped cottons, and made into a cushion.'Nanten' is associated with Winter in Japan.
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!
Finished size approx 13in (33cm) square.Marks wash out. NB - the marks have less contrast than my pre printed sashiko panels. The fabric is indigo colour, not natural indigo, so the colour won't run.Designed and made by Olympus Thread Mfg. Co. in Japan.
100% cotton.
