Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook: Patterns, Projects and Inspirations

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Please pardon the review title. This book deserves it. It's interesting, clearly organized, and easy to use. You can read through it for enjoyment or ideas, or you can use the clear headings, the big color photos, or (if you're more of a words person than an images person) the very navigable table of contents or index, to find exactly the information you want in no time flat.

That's another nice thing about this book. It's jam-packed with information. It has a good history of sashiko. It has some historical info on different sashiko patterns. It has photos of sashiko through the ages. It has good explanations. It has loads of stitch patterns, all with full-color examples, reasonably idiot-proof directions, and suggestions for use so that you can design your own projects. It has a good variety of sample projects, plus a gorgeous gallery of what stitching experts have done with sashiko. It even has suggestions for what to use to get the right look if traditional Japanese tools and materials aren't available where you live.

If you want to learn sashiko and can only afford one book, this is the book to get. I'm very impressed with it.

The author covers every aspect of Sashiko embroidery and quilting. The history of the art chapter is excellent, the illustrations are quite helpful and the instructions are clear and complete. In the past my search for learning about this art has resulted in the unfortunate purchase of several books dedicated to machine sashiko. My interest lies in the traditional art and this book treats every area of that ancient craft. I recommend this book to those seeking to learn and discover the exquisite art of Sashiko embroidery.

More than 100 traditional patterns, all indexed under Japanese names and common English translations, form the core of this sourcebook. Making it more useful still are the author's suggestions for conventional and less-conventional sashiko projects. Novices might tackle a handmade greeting card or drinks coaster using the step-by-step instructions, while sashiko masters might turn to photographs of ornate garments and quilts in the inspiration gallery. The hard part will be putting down the book and picking up the needle and thread.

This is a fantastic book that has it all: history, patterns and projects. On top of that, it's inexpensive. A must have for anyone who wants to learn Sashiko or add to their library.

I do lots of Sashiko and found this book provides both beginning and more advanced instructions and projects. It has some new ideas and fosters a creative way to use Sashiko in quilting.

Excellent for beginners, the book gives historical background, then moves on to traditional materials and notions and how to use them. A very important section on how to draw motifs on square grids and how to elongate the grids to distort the motifs is alone worth the book's price for it allows total independence for the artist to draw motifs on any fabric the exact size needed for a project instead of relying on stencils and pre-printed fabric, besides being the traditional and cheapest technique.

The projects proposed are in good taste and a good mix of tradition and innovation. Follows a rich pattern library that shows in what order to do each motif, a splendid "Inspiration gallery" and a list of resources. An excellent reference for the experienced and the beginners too!

Excellent for beginners and advanced. Clear instructions and wide selection of Japanese ideas. It can be used for some of our more modern quilts.

If you're looking for good, basic information, this book is it. Briscoe describes the history, as well. It also provides some small projects to try out while practicing your technique. I would recommend the book.

Sashiko (the word means `little stab') is a traditional Japanese quilting technique which uses a simple running stitch. Originally the technique was used to combine two or three layers of fabric to create warm, economical clothing. Today its use seems to be mainly decorative.

My first introduction to sashiko was earlier this year, when I saw some sashiko panels on my first visit to a local quilting store. At that stage, I was looking at fabric for my first machine quilting project, but was very attracted to the potential (and portability) of sashiko. I've since completed my first sashiko project (a small tote bag featuring a wave pattern) and am keen to learn more about the history and techniques of sashiko stitching.

I bought this book after reading a number of reviews, and I'm delighted. The history of sashiko is interesting, the selection of relatively simple projects provides opportunities to practice the techniques, and the different patterns (over 100 are included) provide plenty of inspiration for the future.

This is a great guide for those of us starting sashiko stitching: there's information on fabric and thread selection, as well as advice on how to mark and stitch the patterns. There are plenty of diagrams and photographs to assist as well. The ten projects include table mats, a table runner and tote bags, as well as cards and cushions: there are plenty of possibilities.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I found this invaluable for people just learning to do Sashiko. I keep it with my project bag and supplies instead of on the shelf.