This high-quality, Olympus sashiko thread is 100% cotton, specially designed for sashiko embroidery.
What is sashiko ? Sashiko is a traditional Japanese embroidery technique. It used to be used to repair worn clothing. Nowadays, its function is mainly aesthetic, for decorative or hobby purposes. Sashiko means "small stitches" or "small seams".
How do I make sashiko? The Japanese sashiko technique is quite simple, since it involves the front stitch. To achieve the effect, you need to make the dots the size of a grain of rice perfectly even. What's more, when the lines cross, the threads must not cut each other, i.e. they must not touch. You don't need to use an embroidery drum to make sashiko embroidery.
Traditional sashiko motifs include geometric patterns, abstract designs and nature motifs.
What materials are needed for sashiko?
- Embroidery thread. But which thread for sashiko? There's an embroidery thread that's only used for sashiko, because it's thicker than for traditional embroidery, and the result is more matte.
- Sashiko needles are long enough to make a large number of stitches in a single pass, and have a wide eye for easy passage of the thick cotton thread.
- Sashiko fabric. Sashiko used to be made of white thread on indigo blue fabric. Nowadays, they come in a variety of colors.
- A ruler or template to help you make regular stitches.
Are you a beginner? We've put together a technical sheet showing the different hand embroidery stitches. You'll love discovering this art of thread, so get started!
Approx. 40-meter skein.
