Sashiko

Book excerpt: Sashiko - the traditional Japanese style of decorative quilting - has long been admired around the world. Unfortunately, the painstakingly slow process of stitching the motifs by hand and the start-and-stop hassles of stitching by machine have discouraged many of today's sewers from trying this ancient art. Now the process is easy with author Mary Parker's continuous machine sewing technique. Begin by preparing a pattern with heat transfer markers, then simply transfer the colour pattern onto a piece of temporary stabilizer or interfacing and then onto the back side of your fabric. Place sashiko thread in your bobbin and them simply sew over all of the lines in one colour. More than 100 designs are featured in a stitch dictionary, with each one shown as a photograph of a sewn sample and as a colour-coded pattern. The patterns are organized by level of difficulty and are accompanied by fascinating tidbits explaining their history and how they are formed. Complete, step-by-step instructions for 25 distinctive projects are included, most of which can be customized by choosing different patterns, fabrics, or specialty threads.Create your own custom fabrics with allover sashiko designs and then use the fabric to make unique wearables, or create incredible sampler bedspreads, wall quilts, and table runners using your favourites designs from the pattern dictionary.