Sashiko (Japanese embroidery) bag kit.

Complete starter kit for Sahiko, or Japanese embroidery, by Olympus, which includes the following:

• Fabric panel (100% cotton) 90 x 70 cm pre-printed, with all the pieces of your bag.
• Pack of sashiko needles (2).
• Special leather thimble for sashiko.
• 3 skeins of sashiko cotton thread, in white, 13 m each.
• Sheet with graphic explanation in Japanese.
• Explanations in Spanish

On the fabric panel, all the pieces of the bag are marked in white, as well as the embroidery patterns. Once finished, these marks will disappear by rinsing the fabric with water.

The finished size of the bag is 31 cm (vertical) x 43 cm (horizontal).

Linen is not included.

You can find patterns, ideas and uses on our Pinterest board, Sashiko.

Sashiko was used to mend and reinforce garments as they wore out. Although its purpose was practical, over time a whole series of patterns were developed so that, at the same time as the garments were repaired, they were also embellished.

This sewing technique, born out of necessity due to the lack of materials, gave rise to boro. This was the name given to these garments, often fishermen's and peasants' coats, which were made by sashiko stitching each small piece of cloth together to cover holes and tears. This textile art, which is highly prized by collectors today, is a textile art, although it contains in its essence that origin of scarcity and hardship, and the ability of the Japanese people to overcome it.

Boro garments used to be made from indigo-dyed cotton cloth, or from scraps of kasuri (or ikat) cloth, or decorated with the katazome technique. The assembling of these small scraps into a garment, joined together with long rows of stitches, or sewn together to form a pattern with visible stitching, resulted in a beautiful mosaic that perfectly reflected the essence of the Japanese word 'Mottainai', which expresses regret for any wasted resource.

Characteristics:

Brand: Olympus

Material: various

Country of origin: Japan