Sashiko cushions

I had never heard of Sashiko until about a year ago when I came across it in The Gentle Art of Stitching.
It's a Japanese craft and involves stitching in quite thick thread in running stitch on a linen type fabric. I bought the indigo patterned fabric as a pre-printed square with the lines for you to stitch on already marked. You use sashiko thread which is a  heavy cotton and is used double in a sharp and fairly large needle. If you like hand-sewing this is the ultimate relaxation. This was my very first attempt and although the stitching is not very neat I still think it looks really effective. I sat in the garden last summer and did this. I didn't use a frame and I suppose that is why the fabric looks a bit wrinkly - but I like the kind of homespun effect of this.

This is my second attempt here

Once I had finished the sashiko stitching I just added a border in some Kaffe Fassett shot cotton and then made a quilt sandwich with wadding and a bit of curtain lining. I then hand quilted the stripes on the border with some embroidery thread. To  finish I added a back to the cushion cover also in shot cotton.

I ordered all my Sashiko supplies from the excellent Euro Japan Links. The kits are not expensive and I think would make a lovely gift for someone who likes to sew. I then bought a book to find out more about sashiko. This was The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook by Susan Briscoe. It's a lovely and fascinating book to read and also has some really nice patterns for more advanced sashiko. I haven't got beyond the kits yet but I am sure I will one day. I notice Susan has a blog too, here. So if you fancy something stitchy that's easy and relaxing then I would definitely give it a try. Talking of which I need some relaxing craft at the moment. My new year project (yellow/orange/brown half log cabin quilt - see here) is giving me big headaches. More of that soon :(

Colour

Two years ago I went to a two day colour workshop with Emma King and Sarah Hazell based on their book 'Exploring Colour in Knitting'. Although it was focused on using colour in knitting  we talked a lot about colour in a wider senses and how to use it. I must admit I had not really given how I used colour in my crafts much serious thought until then. I knew what I liked and what I didn't, but tended to pick wool and fabric just on instinct. Attending the workshop didn't change how I thought miraculously overnight, but it did make me start to think bit by bit about how I used colour in what I made. These two cushions above are an illustration of one of my first attempts at playing with colour. They are made from a needlepoint pattern adapted from this book

It's very simple and just requires you to stitch in colour blocks of  7x7 stitches framed in a grid of a single colour. I based my colour choices for the cushion at the back of the sofa on one of my favourite plants from my garden.

Now this all sounds very artistic - realistically this was an inspiration, not a lot more, as I was struggling to buy tapestry wools using internet colour charts or nipping into Hobbycraft between appointments and guessing what colours I needed. I soon worked out I should have made a 'shade card' of colours I had used already to help me buy new ones. But even with these practical limitations I think the cushions turned out well and I do love them for being all my own choices.

I'm less confident with my quilts, but improving. Initially my favourite quilts have been those made with a fabric pack like this, where I have used a jelly roll so I am sure that the colours will go well together ( Fabric: Mama Said Sew from Moda, Pattern: Garden Trellis by Pam and Nicky Lintott).

However, I am gradually getting more confident about fabric choices and have just completed a quilt top with my own colour choices which I really like. Unfortunately I can't show it to you just yet as it is a gift for an occasion next year - but let's hope it is the first of many. 

I feel quite excited at the possibilities - and if there is the odd mistake along the way - well maybe that's just part of the learning process.

Getting started

Do you like it? I always want to ask people this when I have made something. I suppose there are not many people who are going to say no to your face - but you can usually tell. This one met with good reactions from the people I showed it to. It's a Christmas present for my son-in-law's mother. Not sure what that makes her to me - but she is a good person to make for because I know she appreciates it.

The cushion is pretty much pillow sized  (60cm x 40cm) and I envisage it being used on a bed. The main fabric I have used is from 'Washday' by Makower. I spotted it a Duxford Autumn Quilt Fair on the Patchwork Corner stall. I had one of my daughters with me (who incidentally has appointed herself as my Fabric Selector - nice job) and we loved it - it has a real 50's feel.

I think this was a real economic make - I bought 25cm of four patterns and I think it came to about £11.00 and I have got loads left.

So there you go - my very first post. I've managed to add a picture and a link- which I don't think is bad for a first attempt. Onwards and upwards. So hey? Do you like it?