Sashiko Basics

Sashiko is a Japanese embroidery practice which uses a simple running stitch to create bold and geometric patterns on textiles. This stitching technique has been used for centuries and continues into our current times to mend,  strengthen, insulate, quilt, and embellish garments and home goods for longevity and beauty. With focus on exploration of the craft, workshop participants will learn how to handle thread, layout a simple grid, draw patterns, employ a Sashiko needle, and use "small stabs" to stitch designs onto their patch samplers. The beautiful stitched squares can later repair a garment, become a pocket, a pincushion, or a coaster.

$35 materials fee is ncluded - 

One pair of Olympus brand Sashiko needles, 2 skeins of Olympus Sashiko thread, water soluble marking pencil, Miniature Rhino brand Sashiko Stencil Grid, 6” mini ruler, pre-gridded practice patch, sustainably sourced mending patches, instruction guide.

Teacher Bio

Rachel Barclay studied Textiles, Installation Sculpture, Printmaking, and Elementary Education in San Francisco and Long Beach, California. Throughout her journey as a creator, educator, and parent, she has focused on making functional sewn and hand-stitched garments and mixed media textile objects. After learning Sashiko and Visible Mending with Jessica Marquez of Miniature Rhino, Rachel embraced the Japanese hand-work practice as an act of mindfulness, empowerment, beauty, and sustainability. She continues to study Sashiko online with Kazue Yoshikawa of Sashiko Lab in Kyoto, Japan. Rachel has shared her joy of hand-stitching with adults and children, alike; teaching workshops in Sashiko Japanese Embroidery Basics, Hand Sewn Drawstring Bags, and Visible Mending. Rachel stitches, mends, sews, reads teen fiction, journals, walks, and forages for natural dye materials in Middlebury, Connecticut alongside her woodworking spouse, Michael Pekovich, and their two young adult offspring. Follow her creative process on Instagram @rachelharrietteb

Class fees are non refundable.  In the event we need to cancel, a full refund will be issued.