Ever wanted to be able to dye your own custom sashiko threads easily, without fuss and mess? Now you can!

Olympus have come up with this great dyeing system, which uses a 'dye pen' to literally colour in your sashiko threads. It could not be easier. This 20m 3-ply FINE sashiko thread is prepared for dyeing, so you can have great success with making your own custom-coloured threads for your sashiko project.

There are 3 skeins in each pack! Sorry, any orders already placed will be bumped up to the correct number.

I've dyed sashiko threads with Procion dye (can be messy), Dylon machine dyes (in the microwave - also a bit messy, and with the potential to stain everything too), and indigo (incredibly messy and complicated). This new dye system is very easy - load up the dye pen, lay out your thread on some clingfilm, and off you go.

Please watch this video I've loaded up onto YouTube to see EXACTLY how it is done! Thanks to Takeshi san and the great team at olympus for creating a version with English subtitles for me! The video is your free dyeing tutorial, so please refer to it whenever you want.

This sashiko thread is the same as the other 3-ply fine sashiko threads I sell (80m balls plus 10m thread packs), and will harmonise with those beauifully. It is ideal for using doubled for a traditional look, or used singly to add a delicate touch to hitomezashi (one stitch sashiko) designs, which have dense stitching somewhat like blackwork. It is also an excellent thread for boro inspired stitching, big stitch quilting, and embroidery where a fine, matte thread is required.

6-ply medium 20m sashiko thread skeins are also available for dyeing.

100% cotton. Made in Japan.

The dye pens can be reused, and I have a starter kit and a 15-colour mega set coming from Japan with these threads, and I will also be selling dyes separately soon. It is recommended that you don't mix up the colours that you use in each dye pen, because darker colours will stain the applicator, and could discolour subsequent lighter dyes. So don't use your yellow dye pen for blue, or blue for red etc. For the purest colour, keep one pen per dye. Once these dyes arrive, I will experiment with them and let you know what happens!

Dyes are non toxic, but please be sensible and keep them away from pets. Older children would be able to use these dyes with supervision. Please use your common sense!