As an introduction to embroidery, the Textile Art students explored Sashiko stitches and fabric collage. They investigated the original purpose and the different patterns of Sashiko and the work of Akiko Ike, who is a renowned textile artist, teacher, and gallery owner from Niigata, Japan.

Ike creates large stitched fabric artworks by collaging found vintage fabric pieces together using running or Sashiko stitches which she calls “chiku-chiku”, an onomatopoeic word Ike uses to describe the way her broad needle travels through the cloth. Ike draws inspiration from the sea and and the playfulness of children.

After their investigation, the students searched through my collection of scrap fabric to find a few pieces they liked. They used glue sticks to paste them together and then choose a Sashiko pattern to transfer and stitch the pieces together.

We discussed composition, colour and pattern before they created their fabric collages. Then we looked at how to create even stitches, how to make a french knot at the end of their thread and how to bind the thread off.

Although I love embroidery and find great comfort in the regularity of Sashiko stitching, I worried the students would find it boring or would loose interest quickly. However, they loved it! Both boys and girls enjoyed the process and found great focus while stitching. They mentioned it was calming and relaxing. I will definitely keep this project in the curriculum!

Here is their work, I’m so proud of them!

To finish the works of and prepare them for presentation, I sewed them to some unbleached cotton which I then seamed. I then attached the pieces to a stick with some white thread and hung it.