Sashiko 365

The idea of a sashiko 'block' for every day of the year started with a challenge from my sashiko course students a few years ago. For many years, I've taught sashiko by stitching patterns on 41/2in (11.5cm) squares, sewn together later into samplers - my friends in Yuza Sashiko Guild do this. Small squares are portable, sashiko can be stitched anywhere, and a big sashiko project is achievable if tackled in little pieces. My students learned different groups of patterns, drawing each onto their fabric, accenting sashiko with colour and growing their skills. But are there really enough different sashiko designs to stitch one every day for a year?The answer is, 'Yes'! I started looking deeply into sashiko designs, discovering many pattern variations that I hadn't explored before. Some larger patterns yield more than one block with different parts of the design. The 365 blocks arrange neatly into a 19 x 19 block format, plus four 'cornerstone' blocks to create the Sashiko 365 quilt top, the ultimate sashiko sampler quilt, measuring a generous 96in (244cm) square finished. There's even an extra block provided - perfect for leap year stitching! - to make a quilt label. These blocks are also ideal for your own smaller projects, from coasters to cushions, as well as bags, table linen, wall hangings, and 'sew' on. Most of the patterns can be extended or repeated to create larger pieces of sashiko, too.For my sample blocks, I chose a mid indigo blue and an easy to remember rainbow thread palette sequence, so you can see how the stitching lines progress and flow around each pattern. The blocks can be stitched in a more traditional white on dark indigo colourway, or in any colours you choose! Whether you stitch a block a day or tackle several at once is up to you, but as many people find, sashiko stitching every day can create a little oasis of calm.Before turning to the pattern directory to begin your first block, do read through the Getting Started section, which gives all

Susan Briscoe was first introduced to sashiko in the early 1990s while teaching English in northern Japan. Her sashiko designs have been published in numerous books and magazines, and she is widely recognised as a expert in Japanese sewing techniques.