Latest

Recommended tools for drawing your own sashiko patterns

I've been using these kind of tools for more than 10 years and I love them. Lots. | Make pattern drawing easier!

Misuyabari - Needles deluxe

Misuyabari sells some of the finest needles in all of Japan. But not just the needles are great, the shop is well worth a trip even without shopping. Find out more about their needles.

The Magic behind Semamori Stitching

Semamori are protective stitches applied to children’s clothes. Like with sashiko stitching, each pattern holds a different kind of spell.

Harikuyō

If you are reading this on the 8th of February or December, DON'T USE ANY OF YOUR NEEDLES!! A tradition for broken hearts needles Harikuyō is a ceremony during which old needles are laid to rest, preferably in tofu or mochi. Or konjak. More on that later. The

Jūjihanazashi

The traditional Japanese sashiko pattern jūjihanazashi 十字花刺し means "letter ten flower stitches."

Tulips

The modern Japanese sashiko pattern tulips チューリップ means, surprisesurprise: "tulips." The pattern is made up of straight vertical and diagonal lines. There are moyōzashi versions of this pattern, too, but this one is categorized into hitomezashi.

Chōmusubi

The modern Japanese sashiko pattern chōmusubi 蝶結び means "bowkties" and features tiny ribbons alternating with tiny crosses. It is a hitomezashi pattern that screams cuteness. Especially in pink.

Ryūseigun

The traditional Japanese sashiko pattern ryūseigun 流星群 means "meteor shower." It is geometric and looks like meteors holding each other's tails.

Kagome

The traditional Japanese sashiko pattern kagome 籠目 means "woven bamboo basket eyes." The "eyes" refer to the holes in the pattern. It is also referred to as trihexagonal tiling in English. This version of the pattern is hitomezashi.

Hitomekagome

The traditional Japanese pattern hitomekagome means "hitome basket eyes." It is a potent protective pattern.

Leaf

You probably already guessed it, but the leaf pattern is a rather new addition to the vast directory of sashiko stitching patterns and belongs to hitomezashi 一目刺し. The pattern looks harmless, but don't be fooled! This one takes quite a while to finish.

Sanjūbishitsunagi

The traditional Japanese pattern sanjūbishitsunagi 三重菱繋ぎ means "three-layered rhombi connection." You can find it as a pattern in hotels all across Japan.

Asagao

The traditional Japanese sashiko pattern asagao 朝顔 or 牽牛花 means "morning glory." The morning glory pattern belongs to moyōzashi 模様刺し and is well suited for beginners.

Digital Numbers

Digital numbers as a sashiko pattern?!? Quite en vogue in Japan. This hitomezashi pattern is rather easy to stitch and thus perfect for beginners.