Sashiko Basics and Visible Mending: Hand Stitching and Clothing Repair

Sashiko is a Japanese embroidery practice that uses a simple running stitch to create bold and geometric patterns on textiles. This hand-stitching practice has been used for centuries in rural Japan and continues into our current times worldwide to mend, patch, strengthen, quilt, and embellish garments and home goods for longevity and beauty.

Day One will be spent immersed in exploration and introduction to the craft.  Workshop participants will learn how to handle thread, lay out a simple grid, draw patterns, employ a Sashiko needle, use a thimble, and employ “small stabs” to stitch designs onto their square samplers. Students will choose from six traditional patterns; horizontal rows, tiny plus signs, linked steps, squares and diamonds, ocean waves, and seven linked treasures. The stitched squares can be transformed into a patch, pocket, sachet, pin cushion, or coaster.

Day Two will focus on applying Sashiko skills to repair, mend, and embellish garments or home goods. Visible Mending celebrates resourcefulness and sustainability by showcasing the hand stitching rather than hiding it.

Students will learn how to apply an under patch, repair a rip or hole, reinforce a worn area, and prepare their distressed textile in order to draw a Sashiko grid and stitch a pattern of their choice. Hand sewing techniques such as basting, whip stitch, parachute stitch, and burying knots will be covered. Students who have no garments to repair may choose to decorate garments or home goods. In addition, participants may continue expanding their stitching repertoire with more complex Sashiko patterns including star stitch, woven tortoise, flower stitch, persimmon blossom, wild grasses, triangles, or rice stitch.

This workshop is open to people of all skill levels whether a novice hand-sewer to a veteran fiber artist. Everyone will work at their own pace and choose Sashiko patterns that suit their design aesthetic and comfort level. All tools and materials provided will ensure students have everything needed to have a relaxing weekend of stitching and mending and continue their Sashiko practice after the workshop.

Materials Fee: $60 paid directly to the instructor. Class Kit includes One pair of Olympus Brand Sashiko needles, Dritz brand needle threader, thimble, Clover water soluble marker, Clover Fabric pencil, heat erasable gel pens, fabric sampler squares, backing fabrics, mending patches in linen, cotton, and denim, beeswax, one skein of thread, Sashiko Grid Stencil, circle templates, take home pattern instructions and resources list.

Plus, access to all the necessary communal supplies; fabric markers, fabric pens, fabric pencils, thimbles, colorful Sashiko threads, upcycled stuffing, upcycled batting, dried lavender and cloves, scissors, rulers, backing fabric, seam rippers, straight pins, safety pins, use of sewing machines.

Special Tools or Equipment: Pack your reading glasses!

Search your mending pile and bring in a few items to assess for mending or decorating. Ideally, areas to repair will be no larger than four inches.

Medium-weight, woven cotton or linen fabrics work best for Sashiko. Any denim looks great. Other garments such as cotton or linen shirts, blouses, pants, skirts, or dresses are good mending options. Home goods such as linen or cotton napkins, tablecloths, cotton project bags take well to patching and stitching, too.

Please no hand knits, nor silky, synthetic, stretchy fabrics. Denim with a bit of spandex is fine.

A sewing machine would be useful but not necessary since SMF will have 4 machines for the group to share.

Workshop Policies: Please be sure to read our 2025 policies before you register for a workshop which can be found here Workshop Policies