The Connections Bridgewater Somerville Apr 2020

what’s NEW! D eal $ $ tea l $ & Visit theconnectionsnj.com/deals-steals TODAY! Online Coupons! SASHIKO (SASH’-E-KO) - LITTLE STABS By: Carolyn Hanson Carolyn Hanson is a local knitting and crochet designer, teacher and fiber artist. She can be contacted at cchanson3@gmail.com . Sashiko is a Japanese form of embroidery used to repair or reinforce clothing. These simple decorative designs usually depict geometric patterns or those found in nature. Sashiko uses a long running stitch with thick white thread, usually on a loose- ly woven indigo fabric. An embroidery hoop is not used. Instead the stitches are long and the fabric is smoothed after each series of stitches. The supplies needed include: - Sashiko Thread. This unique thread has a matte finish, is thicker and has a loose twist, which is different from pearl cotton or embroidery floss, which has a sheen. The most common colors are white, light blue and indigo. Since the thread is thick, it stands up from the fabric and gives texture to the design. - Loosely Woven Fabric. Linen or Japanese cotton fabric is used. The fabric and thread should contrast for a classic look. - Needle. The Saskiko needle had a large eye to accommodate the thick thread and a uniform shaft with a sharp point. This allows the needle to pass through the fab- ric easily without harm. - Thimble. The thimble is necessary to push the needle through multiple folds that are cre- ated when making a long running stitch. - Chalk or invisible ink pen. These are needed for transferring designs to fabric. (optional) I became intrigued by Sashiko when working on visible mending projects and purchased a kit from www.brooklynhaberdashery.com. The fabric is preprinted so transferring the design is not needed. The following steps are used to create these decorative designs: Start by pressing the fabric. The idea is to make a running stitch by piercing the fabric with stitches 1.5 to 2 times longer than the blank spaces. The stitches should be uniform in length. A running stitch looks like dashes on the fabric surface and its underside. You do this by tying a knot in the thread and then bringing the needle up and down into the fab- ric, making the dashes and accumulating the stitches on the needle. This will make little pleats in the fabric. Bunch up the pleats until you have a third of the needle length covered with pleats, or you reach another pattern line or row end. By using a pre-printed fabric, the stitch length is set for you. Perfect for a beginner. Push the needle from the back end rather than pull the needle through the fabric. This makes for less tension. Use the thimble to help push the needle through the bunched fabric and then pull the needle through it. Smooth the fabric to remove all the tension created with the thread. Then repeat the running stitch. When stitching the designs, all horizontal stitching is completed first. The fabric is turned and then the hor- izontal stitching is done, followed by diagonal stitch- ing. Leave a small loop of thread on the wrong side of the fabric when changing directions so the fabric does not pucker. This also eases the tension. Another tip is to move to another area without cutting and knotting the thread as long as the space is less than 1”away. If you enjoyed needlepoint in the past, you may find that this is a simpler method of stitching. However, precision matters. This technique can be easily applied as a visible repair to ripped jeans. Just add an extra piece of fabric to the inside and stitch away. Sashiko supplies are available online. Design books are available in the library or online. Susan Briscoe’s, The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook: Patterns, Design and Inspiration, is a great source for ideas. Happy stitching! These simple decorative designs usually depict geometric patterns or those found in nature. If you enjoyed needlepoint in the past, you may find that this is a simpler method of stitching. 908-236-7997 Fax: 908-236-7686 1260 Rt. 22 West • Lebanon (only minutes off Rt. 31, 78, 287, 202 & 206) www.capconnections.com WHATEVER THE WEATHER… WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED! CAP Connection The TRUCK CAPS & TONNEAU COVERS Tool Boxes • Bug Shields • Hitches • Running Boards • Bed Liners Push Bars • Vent Visors • Floor Mats • Fog Lights • Ladder Racks Gift Certificates Available! We Carry a Full Line of Washes and Waxes for your Vehicle! JERACO, ACCESS & OTHER QUALITY BRANDS home & design PAGE 26 theconnectionsnj.com