More Sashiko

My two day class at Tasman Mini Symposium finished well with everyone getting 

a good amount of their Noshi Wallhanging done. The next day I taught another Sashiko 

Class – this class featured a Sakura (Cherry Blossom) branch.

I used hand dyed threads – a subtle pink for the blossoms and a subtle green for the

branches and leaves. The fabrics are all old indigo or kimono fabrics. The dark indigo background would have been in and out of the natural indigo dye pot about 20 times 

to achieve this depth of colour. The green is dyed in the same process as the indigo

but gardenia seeds are added to the mixture to turn the blue to green. 

The border fabric is recycled male kimono fabric.

My students in class used modern fabrics for theirs and several used ecru for the leaves 

and branches and then moved into the traditional red for the sakura blossoms 

and that looked great too.

It has been great to teach in Nelson at another Mini Symposium – I taught at the 

Picton one and the Timaru one and I really enjoy the smaller and more relaxed 

atmosphere of these Mini versions of our National Symposium.

I have a half day class to report on tomorrow - another sashiko project.