Sashiko: Easy & Elegant Designs for Decorative Machine Embroidery [Hardcover]

Mary S. Parker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1999

Sashiko is traditional blue-and-white Japanese quilting. Usually hand-stitched in white thread on indigo-dyed textiles, sashiko designs range from simple geometrics to elaborate florals. This book offers 20 projects which bypass the time-consuming process of stitching the motifs by hand. The iron-on, colour-coded patterns allow the modern sewer to machine-stitch the patterns in long, unbroken lines in a fraction of the time. The projects illustrate sashiko's decorative possibilities - on clothing (adornments on collars, pockets and handbags) and home decoration items (duvet covers, sheets and pillowcases) and the stitch directory provides over 100 colour-coded designs for many uses, some are centuries old, others are the author's creations.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Sashiko is traditional Japanese quilting, usually done in white running stitch on indigo fabric. Machine-stitched sashiko has a somewhat different appearance but is just as striking. The emphasis in this book is on patterns that may be continuously stitched across the fabric without stopping to tie off. Parker, a teacher of sashiko workshops, provides a dictionary of continuous patterns, instructions for successful stitching, and a sections of fairly easy projects for pillows and table linens. A good selection for public libraries on a topic of increasing interest to American stitchers.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

A very thoughtful and well-ordered introduction to the centuries-old art of sashiko, Japanese blue-and-white quilting. In fact, Parker has enhanced the stitching techniques through her very own innovations--practice strategies as well as the use of heat transfer interfacings. With those new methods and a sewing machine, the once labor-consuming task of running stitches becomes a joy--and a true act of creation. To that end, 25 projects are featured, ranging from a sampler table runner to decorative screen panels; additionally, the author presents a detailed and engaging history of sashiko and more than 100 stitch patterns, each with Japanese history, recommendations for use, and two examples (one in blue on white, the other white on blue). A mouth-watering "gotta try" wealth of designs and information. Barbara Jacobs

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579901328
• ISBN-13: 978-1579901325
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,359,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Book!, November 14, 2000

By 

Sandra Montgomery (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sashiko: Easy & Elegant Designs for Decorative Machine Embroidery (Hardcover)

I recently took Mary's beginner Sashiko one-day class and it was the best class I have taken and I've taken a good deal. This book thoroughly explains the process we learned in class. This is such an easy way to do exquisite Sashiko designs. This is not free-sytle quilting. You just stitch along the lines. You will be amazed at the product! It helps if your machine has a needle down feature. The book shows illustrations of the finished projects, which she brought to class. I highly recommend this book to those who have a ruler, compass, and graph paper, and Sulky ink transfer pens, and are willing to prepare the paper sheets for fabric design transfer. Her method is easy and precise. This is by far, my most valued book. I am a quilter and have quite an extensive library. You will love this book and the history behind the designs. The designs range from beginner to advanced and there are many to choose from!

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An informative introduction to Sashiko, August 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sashiko: Easy & Elegant Designs for Decorative Machine Embroidery (Hardcover)

This book is very thorough about the history, traditions, and designs of the art of sashiko. I learned much more than I expected from a design book--I expected just a small introduction to the art and then a few projects and designs to begin with. There is much, much more! The author also shows how to put together designs of your own so there are no limits to where you can go with the knowledge from the book. However, the drawings are small and will have to be enlarged to be useful--also I wish there was at least a small section about sashiko by hand--but the title says it all--Machine Embroidery. I'll be trying it out tomorrow.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, April 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Sashiko: Easy & Elegant Designs for Decorative Japanese Machine Stitching (Paperback)

This book is both for the beginner and the advanced. It explains the basic techniques, how to transfer patterns, which materials to use. And then it brings various projects, each with a list of materials and tools, photos of the final product, patterns and designs. The book concludes with about 100 patterns/designs you can use, very clearly illustrated. A wonderful book.