Sashiko Shirt Cushions

Sashiko is a type of Japanese embroidery, which I really like and

 have some previously stitched projects.

I knew I had 2 finished sashiko pieces, the right size for cushion

covers, and  I knew they

 would be a great gift , for friends who have birthdays on the same day.

I used old shirts for backing and made patchwork borders.

Now I have two finished projects, and two  home made presents.

You can read about the Sashiko embroideries here:

Leaf and Hemp

http://texturetrail.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/some-more-sashiko.html

Grape

http://texturetrail.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/more-sashiko.html

Sashiko Shirt Cushions

Grape Design

Leaf and Hemp Design

Back of cushion

Shirt Back

Matching Pair

Binding on Sashiko Sampler

The thing that has caught my eye this week is Susan Briscoe's blog, 

Sashiko and other stitching.

I am enjoying Susan's photos of Japan, where she is at the moment. 

There are lots of beautiful photos of places she is visiting, and a lot of 

Japanese stitching exhibitions of Sashiko, quilting and

a variety of other things.

Reading about Susan's trip to Japan reminded me that

back in March 2013 I posted about finishing my Sashiko sampler.

 I have since completed the binding, and backed it

with a checked cotton.

Tag Tuesday-Japan

This week our tags on Tag Tuesday have the theme Japan.

I found I had a lot of Japanese ephemera for my tag, and in fact I could have made a collection of tags!

I have made a kimono out of origami papers, and set it on a background of a Japanese catalogue, which has an assortment of odd things in it! I used some of my rabbit paper to make a frame, added the needle papers from my Sashiko needles-a type of Japanese embroidery. You can read about it on my blog here.

I photographed my tag on a catalogue of chop sticks. 

Thanks to my husband, who brought these bits and pieces back for me from Japan.

Some more Sashiko

I have been working on some more Sashiko. This pattern

is called Water and Hemp Leaf and is worked in a variegated

blue thread. Watch this space for more Japanese embroidery,

 as I have another one ready to do! I knew it was an addictive

type of hand stitch as soon as I started it. The kits I used are

available from The Cotton Patch if you would like to have a go!

More Sashiko

I have been doing some more Sashiko. I really like this Japanese embroidery, and want to do more and more! I haven't been posting much recently as I was ill with a chest infection. I found the Sashiko to be a pleasant project to do, nice and soothing . This design is Grape from The Cotton Patch and I really like the effect of blue on white.

Finished sashiko

I have finished the sashiko sampler that I have been working on, working repeats of some designs in different colour ways. It just needs binding now!