Just arrived!

This designer panel is by Hitomi Fujita for QH Textiles, one of many I stock (ideal for combining in a sashiko sampler quilt). These stunning original designs take hanafukin panels in a new direction, while staying traditional.  This classic design features the kanji character  寿 (kotobuki - congratulations/longevity) written inside a sake dish, against kiku (chrysanthemum), clouds, the suns rays, and waves - a very auspicious design, that would be appropriate for any occasion wishing good luck. Please see my stitching suggestions below for ways to stitch this design to best advantage. It is one of several panels inspired the dyed cotton linings of Japanese firefighters' hanten jackets. A special design for those who are really interested in Japanese traditional culture.

Hand printed in Japan.

Limited quantities!

It is a 'hana fukin' with literally means 'flower cloth' and printed 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 often do). They may be stitched with a doubled or single thread (or a mixture of both, for an interesting effect), in white or using coloured threads. Any of my medium sashiko threads would be ideal for these panels.

Stitching suggestions for the panel -
Use different thread colours to emphasise different parts of the design. The folded and knotted papers would look natural in white or cream. The kotobuki kanji character would look good in golden yellow, and the sake dish in red (red and black are frequent lacquer combinations for sake dishes). Golden yellow, perhaps a varigated golden yellow, would work well for the sun's rays, and perhaps also for the chrysanthemum, which could also be stitched in white or cream, with the leaves in a light green. Blue, varigated blue, grey, white or cream would all be good choices for the clouds and waves. Or stitch the whole panel in white or cream for a more traditional look, perhaps varying the thread thickness for extra interest.

These hand printed designer panels are more expensive than the other hanafukin I sell, but the patterns are so beautiful, I wanted to start selling them! I have more more designs by Hitomi Fujita in stock, including larger panels.

Sashiko Cloth by QH Textiles (Australia)
 
Printed with water-soluble ink - marks wash out
 
Composition : 100% Cotton
 
Individual Cloth Size : Approx. 30cm x 60cm (Finished size : 30cm x 30cm)
 
About Sarashi cotton -
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! The second photo shows a comparison between these panels and those by Olympus Thread Mfg. Co., which are most of the other hanafukin I sell. This QH Sarashi fabric is a slightly finer weave, although the stitch length is about 3mm (the same as my Olympus panels), and is the one in front in the photo. The fabric shown both plain and with 5mm dots is the Olympus fabric. The shade of blue is also very slightly different (it actually looks more extreme in the photo than in real life). For a quilt or other project using hanafukin panels, you could mix the two brands and the colour difference would be minimal. If however, you want an exact colour match with all the panels, please just use hanafukin designs from one brand.