Decorative Hand Sashiko Embroidery Workshop

Join Marianne for a fun, creative and relaxed Sashiko stitching session. Create a personalised decorative embroidery hoop to hang up at home and enjoy a couple of hours of mindful sewing in friendly company.
Learn or refresh your skills in decorative hand embroidery, incorporating fabric scraps, buttons, beads and other items into your finished piece to create something meaningful and unique to display at home.

A little about sashiko stitching and the workshop
Sashiko is the ancient Japanese technique of visibly mending textiles by adding patches with decorative hand stitching, thereby strengthening the finished item and adding to its story.
These are simple straight stitches which anyone can do, but they can be combined in attractive and intricate patterns inspired by nature and the home, and add personal meaning to our belongings.
In this workshop you'll learn some of the simple sashiko stitch patterns and create a personalised piece of decorative embroidery to display at home.
The activity
Choose from a range of templates (letters, stars, hearts, flowers, etc or create your own design), choose your colour palette and then fill your shape with fabric scraps, buttons and simple stitches in interesting patterns (examples will be provided). Based on the Japanese visible mending technique “sashiko”, this workshop is suitable for complete sewing beginners to those who want to spend a couple of hours refreshing their sewing skills and crafting something personal to display at home.
Depending on your sewing experience and the complexity of your design, you may not finish your hoop in the workshop. But everyone will take their hoop, needle, threads and inspiration to finish it at home.
All materials will be provided, but please feel free to bring any fabric scraps, buttons, beads, jewellery etc that you would like to incorporate into your finished piece.
Please note, you will need reasonable hand/finger mobility and eyesight.
A little about Sashiko:
Sashiko literally translates as "little stabs", and is the age-old Japanese technique of visibly mending textiles by adding dense hand stitches to worn areas, thereby strengthening them. Adding patches of fabric is called boro, and when overstitched by hand in decorative patterns we are personalising the textile and adding to its story. During the workshop Marianne will explain the humble origins of sashiko mending, the difference between sashiko and boro, how the patterns developed into recognised named designs based on the communities who sewed them, and the many practical and creative applications of the technique. She'll also outline how sashiko and boro align with the Japanese philosophies of finding beauty in imperfection, the authenticity of the handmade, and how these sewing techniques tie in with other Japanese mending skills such as kinsugi (mending ceramics with gold to highlight rather than disguise the cracks).
Sashiko uses simple straight running stitches which anyone can do, but they can be combined in attractive and intricate patterns inspired by nature and the home to add personal meaning to our belongings.
A little about the instructor
Marianne is an upholsterer and sewing enthusiast with a lifelong background in textiles, embroidery, dressmaking, mending and upcycling. In her 20s she lived in Tokyo for nearly 3 years and gained an understanding of the Japanese aesthetic and outlook.
She loves the simplicity, accessibility and mindfulness of sewing and believes that anyone can learn to sew and express themselves creatively through needle and thread.
Marianne can guide you in both practical and artistic methods of embroidery, and show you how to use sewing to make beautiful decorative items and also transfer these skills to extend the life of your clothes and textiles. Follow her on Instagram or Facebook @forminfabricDuring the workshop you'll be able to get 10% off at Chirpy.

You'll also receive a stamp on your virtual Chirpy Workshop Loyalty Card - collect 9 to get your 9th workshop for FREE

£35pp

Age 16+

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