I think I would use them as *really* cute handtowels. But I’ve spent years and years learning that using a thing you love is more important than preserving a thing you love. Because it’s in using it with joy you get joy out of it continually. :)

Make them into a folding screen. Frame each in light wooden frame, to create panels and then screw in some hinges to make a screen where you can see both sides of the piece and can section of a bit of a room, or use a backdrop

I’m currently living in japan and just wanna say this is beautiful. Also in terms of materials, don’t worry about it. The ones recommended in the book are likely not “fully traditional” they are what is workable and available. Just like with kimono, they are normally seen as silk today but the local kimono maker in town told me that in the old days there were no rules. If it was a nice fabric and you wore it as a kimono, then it’s a kimono.

Sashiko is one of those things where getting a palm thimble and the correct needle type (they're a LOT longer than typical embroidery needles) really makes a huge difference in the learning curve.

My mom used to do Hardanger, a Norwegian embroidery style that doesn't use a frame. When I think about how her entire project, thread, and needle easily fit in a quart Ziploc bag, I think about taking it up myself! Sashiko looks like another great candidate for that.

Yes! Embroidery is about the process not the destination. It’s like meditation but you have something physical at the end

You used sashiko to make hanafukin. I think they’re used as cleaning cloths way back when in Japan. The sashiko stitches were both decorative and functional since they made the fabric more durable.

The way you feel about embroidery is exactly how I feel about cross-stitch. Even though I live in chronic pain, I tend to only do projects that are super intricate, especially when doing petit point. I get that patience line all the time, and my answer is always the same: by focusing on this, my mind stills and my pain diminishes. It doesn’t matter the hobby, but I think everyone should have something that gives them that sense of peace.

I would 100% make a skirt with this! You could add to the borders of the shrunk squares with more white fabric to make them all the same size. Maybe even make a pinafore skirt with your favorite square as the bib. Also, you could make a lightweight quilt with no backing. It'd be nice for hot summer nights and still decorative tossed on top of other blankets. Each one is so lovely!

I like how you made a little gallery at the end! My KZfaq-only knowledge on Sashiko came from learning about visible mending. My impression is that sashiko began as a way to mend clothes, so from that perspective, using what ever fabric you have is probably plenty authentic

Sashiko is supposed to strengthen what is essentially used like a tea-towel. Don't worry too much about the kind of fabric or thread you're using. It's fine. Sarashi momen is just undied woven cotton used for many things like underwear, steaming food or straining liquids, just like cheese cloth or gauze. Momen means cotton. Sarashi means to expose, referring to the traditional method of bleaching cloth white.

So, re the idea of a quilt: the key would be to embroider the top cloth, a layer of batting, and the back cloth together. Sashiko is often thought of as a Japanese decorative quilting technique. I would probably get two pieces of fabric slightly larger than the desired size of the finished thing, the batting, and then literally just use that whole huge thing as my work piece. Then eventually when it's done you bind it and it's already quilted. Speaking of which I just had an idea for another quilted Christmas stocking design 😁

i found that a longer sashiko needle and palm thimble really made the process faster on larger patters with no curves or shallow curves. i use shashiko stitches for visible mending pretty often so i am usually going for a larger stabilizing pattern to reinforce the mend rather than a straight embroidery.

You could use them as placemats or decorations on tables. You could use sashing (I think) or applique to make them into a quilt. You could use a frame where you can change them out and do a rotating display. I have a sheet hung as a curtain over a large picture window in my apartment, and I pin finished cross stitch or embroidery to it so I can see and enjoy my work. I can then just take a piece off to frame it or finish it out into a pillow or stand-up.

One of the best parts of sashiko to me is how it goes hand in hand with boro boro to use up scrap fabric or make a weak fabric stronger.

You can get picture frames that have glass front and back so you can see both sides of the artwork. It's also used for pressed flowers.

So fun! I used the persimmon flower stitch pattern to attach interfacing to the side of a bag I was mending and I love how it turned out.

I love this! I'm not an embroiderer nor a sewist but I just mended some jeans with a shashiko-inspired patch. I had a pair of new-ish jeans I loved that ripped along the edge of the back pocket. I think the stress of always having my phone in that pocket, along with probably a weakness in the denim made for a long straight tear and left my butt hanging out. 😳 I put a patch of thin denim below and affixed it with a shashiko-ish design. Looks great and did the trick! I had to use the stabby method though; ain't no way I could do the sewing method through 2 and sometimes 3 layers of denim!

I like the Folding Screen idea (called Shoji Screen in Japan) because it would show off both sides of the fabric. You can also press a piece between two panes of glass and frame it. That way both sides are available for viewing. A gallery display of these on a sliding door, to a patio or balcony, for instance, would look nice because people could see one side going out and the other side coming back in. At the same time, it would help prevent birds from flying into the glass doors. Of course, you'd want to make certain the doors aren't in direct sunlight so the lovely threads won't fade. I really like this technique and I appreciate you explaining it as clearly as you did. Nice video. Kuddos. PEACE

Back in 2002 I had to under go back surgery, my Mom and I belonged to world wide based online quilting group, on of the ladies lived in Tokyo and she sent me a dozen Sashiko kits to keep my hands busy while I was recovering. They ranged from geometric shapes, Autumn leaves floating on the wind to mice running around a square. I loved them they kept my mind occupied until the day I was allowed to finally get out of bed and walking again. One thing I loved was the specialised sewing needle for it, it’s longer than a standard needle which was handy considering you had to weave the needle up and down in one go for some of the geometric patterns lol. Many of the nurses would ask me what it was and I found it simpler to say I was learning Japanese Embroidery, they thought it was so cool. I love how some of the designs are placed onto clothes, but as you pointed out some designs make the fabric shrink so the designs would have to be done before the outfits are cut out of the fabric. This is something I really want to do one day. As you say it does not need a hoop or frame to work on this type of embroidery. But if I do go ahead I think I will make a frame to hold each panel of the outfit to ensure the fabric is kept straight. Just in case lol Your stitching is very neat, I could see all the squares joined as a throw but not as a quilt, as you said, you would be covering up the back which is just as pretty as the front. So it would be great as I summer throw when it’s just a little chilly when those summer storms hit.

I am making Christmas gifts now, so most of my embroidery is focused on finished projects. I’m a task oriented grandma. I have all I need to start Sashiko, and even found a book with patterns at my local “Friends of the Library” bookstore. I plan on starting after the new year because my attention is on gift making. I can’t imagine trying to do 36 projects for a first effort. Amazing in the bewildering sense of the word! I just finished my first sampler, it was 11x16” and ended up way better than I imagined. I still think a quilt would be a good way to utilize the pieces you made. Unless you’re going to frame them all I can’t see them being much more than so much embroidery put away in a box. I’m very utilitarian minded so consider that. The Japanese used Sashiko to repair precious clothing or to embellish clothing. A single piece might have been framed and hung, but the art was utilitarian in nature. Are you going to do more Sashiko or are you through with it? I love exploring embroidery in other countries so I was excited when I read you were sharing Sashiko. Thanks for the hard work! Beautiful.

The sashiko thread I order online is actually thinner and tighter spun than dmc thread in my experience, and I much prefer it to embroidery floss. But you do you! I would have started with a couple kits rather than being like “I’m going to buy the supplies for 36 projects at once,”😂

They are used as cleaning towels or dish towels. Very sturdy. That’s one of the original uses other than mending farmer and fishermen clothes. I use mine as dresser toppers. Like old fashion doilies. Also bread basket liners is a good use.

Totally with you on embroidery and patience. Embroidery helps me be patient with non-embroidery situations, like long layovers or boring meetings.

On the quilt front, you could do what's referred to as "quilt as you go." Aside from quilting each block separately (which you've done), it has a technique for joining the blocks that would leave you with a double-sided quilt/ blanket. You wouldn't lose any of your stitching, could still easily display it, AND have a lovely handmade heirloom. Don't stress about there being blocks of different sizes. I have faith you'd figure out a way to cover for that.

What to do with the blocks? Here's a couple of suggestions: 1. Sew them together into a summer "quilt" or bed spread. (No batting, no backing... just sewn together.) See if you need the smaller ones to make the size to cover your bed, you might not need all of them. If you do, then sew a strip of fabric on all 4 sides (called sashing) to make them all the same size. 2. In Japan they hang very short curtains at the top of doorways (for privacy). Each western door would probably take 2-3 squares and you probably have enough squares to make these curtains for all the doorways of your home (including closets etc.). 3. If you stitched them all together instead of a bedspread, you could make curtains. They would be so pretty with the light showing through. 4. My home doesn't have big windows, so I might hang the "curtain" on a wall as a sort of tapestry or art piece. You often see quilts decorating walls of country cottages. Sending lots of love 💖 from sunny 🌞 Arizona 🌵. Take care of yourself and each other 😷.

I love that you kind of set up an interactive art installation in your house. So much fun. I think you did a fantastic job! ❤

That store, Maydel, had kits with proper thread and the thinble youre supposed to use, from a really swell teacher who resides in Kyoto- Kazue from sashiko lab. They have the needles too that help stitch through a lot of fabric. I'm honestly surprised that you chose ordering fabric over kit, but good on you for doing the pattern from scratch. Def check out that sashiko teacher, her documentation is really amazing.

These are so lovely! I think someone already mentioned it but the things you’ve made are called hanafukin and they’re kinda kitchen cloths, so they’re practical things (Sashiko is for strengthening fabric originally). I loved seeing all the different patterns you stitched and I hope we get to see some of the stuff you stitch on other things too!

Make a jacket, skirt, shirt, or outfit out of them. They are so beautiful! Congratulations on this accomplishment!

I'm super impressed that you completed the whole book! They are beautiful! If you love both sides, you could use some which are the same size to make a beautiful folding screen room divider. I also think you could make some cool bags out of them with some clever folding that would show both sides. It would be fun to see you incorporate these embroideries into a piece of clothing, like a jacket or maybe a reversible vest. You could also sew some squares together to make a beautiful table runner. A roll-up or fold-up holder for art brushes or pencils would also be lovely made with these. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with them.

I've been looking up (I don't want to say researching) sashiko off and on for a few years now. I'm too afraid of actually sewing it wrong😂 I've had people ask "what's sashiko" and I say " ITS A JAPANESE EMBROIDERY TECHNIQUE THAT TRANSLATES TO TINY STABS!" I can't control the nerd brain

I feel exactly the same about patience and embrodery (and other yarn/fiber crafts). It's just not about the final object for me, it's about the process of making it. I typically make a point of making things as gifts for others because I enjoy making things far more than having them and wouldn't have the space to keep everything I made.

That dress at the reveal is absolutely gorgeous on you. The color, the drape, the fit - just **chef’s kiss**. I started doing sashiko a month or so ago, and have been doing it freehand because pattern transfer is inexplicably hard for me. (Although I did buy a light pad while watching this video, so I guess I’m going to have to start thinking about making the actual correct patterns now, huh?) I wimped out and have been using thimbles, lol. I’ve also been using soft crafting felt as the base, because I’m too lazy to sew layers together. It’s really the most pleasant-feeling embroidery experience I’ve had, so I’m kind of excited now to do it closer to “correctly.”

I 100% agree about enjoying the process. There are some things u make because I want the finished item, and sometimes a certain part feels tedious and I want it to be over, but I generally love making things with my hands and the time I'm taking to make whatever it is will pass anyway and otherwise have nothing to show for it. So I knit complicated sweaters in tiny yarn and I love every minute of it. People always tell me they don't have the patience either and I always try to explain how meditative it is.

Tbh I'd use them as napkins, "coasters" or sousplats. I fully support the "Use what you make" phrase. Put it to use. Don't leave them stored away.

ooh ooh i know what to do with them... take them to a book binder some framing shops also do it and turn them into your own swatchbook/coffee table binderbook. we did it for nans work was a big hit. great way to display both sides

Stick it in your purse?!? But you have pockets in pockets! You don't need no stinking purse. Now you can carry a cute lil craft tote. 😂

Make them into a book! A fabric book of Sashiko would be lovely and would show both sides of the embroidery.

I love the sashiko squares, but I had to laugh when you said you made a rule for only 3 projects on the go at once. 🤣🤣 I try to stick to 2 : 1 for home, 1 for taking out with me! It is so hard when there are so many ideas out there!

Beautiful. Impressive achievement. Even though I hate the thought of anything possibly damaging these, I also like the idea of them being used and enjoyed. Because of that, I think a coverlet (like the kind that you sit with on the sofa) where you could just stitch them together without a backing, could be great. Also, if you don’t mind cutting into them 😬, you could make a kimono type robe. Just my 2 cents.

Frame them somehow in double sided frames. The styles remind me a lot about old Japanese kimonos that were embroidered rather than painted or woven. I love all of them but the Tortoiseshells, and florals really popped to my liking and style. Nice work.

Subscribed for cool crafty content, but also for heckin' cute pupper. Please make sure pupper is paid appropriately in treats for their participation in content creation.

This looks like such a fun project! For anyone interested in sashiko, it's really worth getting the proper supplies -- needle, thread, and thimble. "Sashiko" encompasses the method of stitching, not just the end result. I recommend Sashiko Story here on KZfaq for those interested in exploring more. It's a great craft, and with the traditional stitching method it's easy to stitch for hours without getting tired, since the action is in the movement of hands and arms, not fingers.

Wow, this is so impressive! What a fantastic video and congrats on finishing such a substantial project! As I saw them pile up, they looked like tea towels, but maybe it's not the right fabric for it. I also really like the garland idea like how you displayed them at the end!

These are so beautiful. If you are giving any smaller gifts for the holidays you could use them as fabric gift wrapping.

The squares would make a great summer bedspread maybe joined together with colored bias tape, or just strips of matching colored cotton like a windowpane.

An unauthorized trip to the bookstore? Does Mat have to authorize your trips now? LOL Halfway through -- this is fascinating! I used to do cross-stitch back before my daughter was born, and I still have all the stuff for it, tucked away upstairs. I keep thinking I should get it out and work on it again, but I've got too much stuff spread out all over right now from all the other unfinished projects I've got going on -- must resist the urge... must resist... it's a good thing it's all upstairs and I have a hard time going up the stairs. 😉

Hi, Charlie! I bought that book and a kit from Amazon back in August. You have inspired me to stop procrastinating and get to it! Thank you!!

A throw size quilt at 6x6 pieces would be great and doggo/couch pretty size. It could be backed with scrap fabric a la what Shannon Makes just did on her channel. That seems like a very you project. You could also make 4 tote crafting bags/totes with a canvas lining. They are throw pillow sized. You could also make them fancy lined drapes.

I’m 74 and have embroidered most of my life. I totally agree with your philosophy. The process has always meant much to me than the result. Thank you.

I've only seen Sashiko as a mending technique, not as a standalone embroidery style. I shall have to look into this, for sure.

Regarding the quilt: Connecting the squares would be a fantastic way to highlight bordering and connecting stitches! It could be a summer coverlet. Since each square is already two layers, it's already summer weight. And you can use plain strips of the fabric to make smaller squares the same size as the largest ones.

I bought a template for making dots. Yet to try it yet. You have me wanting to start a quilt out of it now.

The bit at the end where you hang up all of your work and admire it made me emotional. I'm an artisan and sometimes it gets so tiring I forget to do that simple thing. Admire my own work.

You can use some of these as for the traditional kitchen cloths. They can be put over fruit or rising bread, drying your hands or napkins.

I feel like those lovely boxy kimono-esc spring/autumn jackets would be a great use for these! Absolutely lovely work on all of these patterns! 😍

i love cross stitching and i do use it as a way to relax but i do get to a point im so excited for the piece to get done that i get like “i gotta get it done” but then i can also start a new piece after

I would totally sew them all together as a summer quilt! No batting, no backing. I’m a improv quilter and I would just add thin sashing to even them up, just enough (not on all of them, but only where needed). I would also keep them in the order you did them. So you could ‘read’ the progression like words on a page.They are epic! I love you did the whole book! Awesome goal and great video! Loved it 🥰⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕

The bit about knitting completely cracked me up. I have been into all kinds of fiber art my whole life for all the reasons you went through at the end and I'm always taking my projects with me if I can. Many years ago I had a keychain I was working on with embroidery floss taped to my counter at work and I'd work on knots between customers. One time a man very kindly came up to me and asked "oh, what are you knitting? 😊" i was completely dumbfounded and just said sir my knitting needles are all at home, this is macrame 😅 it was just my hands and some string lol but at least he was interested in it

I just discovered your KZfaq channel.(I been wanting to learn this type of embroidery style because I love Japanese things) I saw some wonderful lite weight jackets that used this technique (blue on white) and it was so cool looking. The jacket was a blocky type pattern so maybe? You can use these in that way. It is a wonderful thing you have done! I’m re inspired to try it again and will get creative in the fabric I use( cheep skate me) and thank you so much for the observation about the floss. I figure there’s got to be some sort of Cotten cloth with the same thread count or close enough to try it. I’m a sr. On a next to no income so “getting creative” is an absolute necessity.

Here's my thought: you know those multi-fold (usually at least 3) room dividing screens? I would try to find some frames that have glass (or similar to protect the fabric) on both sides. Put the sashiko into the frames, one each, then create larger frames, enough to hold, say, 6 of the smaller frames within it. that would be one upright of your screen. Unless Matt is very handy with tools (and from something you said on Instagram it sounds like he's WAY too busy ATM for this) you'd probably need to get a carpenter - but if you make 6 of those uprights, with 6 pieces of the sashiko in each one, connected with hinges, you've got a really large folding screen that will allow for anyone to see both sides - it would look great in your living room, it's a big enough room to hold that kind of large piece of furniture. Alternatively, you could do something similar but treat each one as a cupboard 'door', maybe for something like those ikea cube storage things (I googled, the Kallax things), but again, focusing on the idea of having each one inside a double sided glass frame to allow you to see the back of each piece. This may actually work quite well if you want something that is slightly see through but not completely, if you leave the glass clear around each sashiko panel. Could work really well for storage for your craft room? Hope that I've explained myself sufficiently well and this makes sense? I'd send links but youtube won't like that.

I think this would be a perfect technique for embroidering the hem of a skirt, since the back looks clean as well that’s perfect for something that might flip up and be seen

Just gorgeous! You can absolutely make these into a quilt. For the ones that have been pulled in by the thread, just add some white fabric to make it the same size as the standard block.

I think I can understand patience comments. When working on a big project that seems like you are not getting anything done, I always have a small project to do so I can feel that instant gratification of having completed something. Just my 2 cents. For the embroidery squares, why not make them into curtains. Line of heavily embroidery than a line of less embroidery. It would be cool to look at with the sun behind it.

That’s an amazing progression! I hope you make it into a quilt. I’m surprised you don’t mention sashiko needles or the palm thimble that helps you rock the stitches back and forth rather than using just your fingers.

I love the journey most. I am working on my first EPP hexagon project and started from the center out. It started with a yin yang symbol and keeps growing and now approaches a 60" star. That big, I decided to elongate it into a twin spread. Kept working while I designed the ends. Then I like the ends and designed the backing. I will hand quilt it. I consider it a Zen Meditation. I am almost finished with my latest cross stitch project, so pretty. It is a blooming redbud leaning over water in front of a full moon. My third project is turning old jeans into a skirt. This afternoon I ordered the fabric. Ugh. I have looked and looked for thrifted fabric. The problem was deciding what I wanted first. Wrong wrong wrong! I bought Aida and thread for a tapestry next. Gotta finish another couple hundred stitches on the tree 😊

I like the idea of a sashiko blanket or curtain... You could frame them with some cotton ribbon to give some wiggle room for the varied square sizes. I think that'd be lovely! For future sashiko projects...i use it as a way of mending and reinforcing clothing! The extra thread through the fabric stabilizes it. It looks cute and decorative over areas like where I've ripped holes in the knees or at the back pocket, but can also be discrete for when the crotch wears through. This really extends the life of my jeans!

Is there anything better than the moment when you get all done and you can hang up your work and look at it? I do the same thing. I got sick and tired of how uneven my stitching looked, so the way I remedied that situation was to sew an entire quilt top in squares of paper piecing. Just like you, I did that while on a very long trip where we crossed the country and visited all of our friends and family. I do still remember where I was when I did certain ones. After I sewed the back onto the quilt top, I wanted to learn how to quilt with a regular sewing machine, so I quilted the whole thing on my normal machine. The entire quilt was a learning experience and it’s on my bed now. I can look at it whenever I want and enjoy it.

I am from Sweden and I have always done crosstich, dispute stitch and needlepoint without a frame. It is the way I was taught and it means it is very portable.

If you decide to make a quilt some day, do your sashiko on quilt squares. I've always done it on two pieces of whatever quilt fabric I'm using. Usually, my name in kanji, for the lower right corner, but also in random or planned quilt squares. I learned it using Pearl 8 cotton thread. You are hereby commended for doing all 36 in the book. There are lots more patterns, or make your own. And I love the idea of a folding screen with wooden frames for your work. You could even put glass on both sides to help keep the dust, etc. off. Well done!!

I would be very reluctant to use your squares as towels. However, I do take my bf's old red shop rags, wash them (now pink ) and sashiko them together. They are stained from grease and paint. They have holes that I practice darning. And stitching two together makes a very nice weight fabric. These I do use as rags. Because when I make them that's their purpose. It's easy to use them as rags because that's what they were before I got them. I just work on them to make them more enjoyable to use (the thicker fabric and darned holes). No one sees them but me, so I can relax whilst stitching (my +s aren't always symmetrical), but like you said, we do it for the process. 💖🌞🌵😷

As someone who has the tendency to purchase all the stuff I’m told I’m required to do the thing correctly - before even checking to see if I like said thing - I applaud your ability to use what you have and make it work. ETA: maybe mount the squares in acrylic frames so you can see both sides but don’t have to worry about dust, dirt, or dog hair ❤

My opinion is that embroidery is a love of it which transports you away onto another level and not patience no matter what type of embroidery you do. I have watched numerous videos and one channel on KZfaq that I found very informative is The Green Wrapper. When doing Sashiko, they use a special type of thimble that is worn on your middle finger like a ring to push the needle through the fabric to avoid callasus on your thumb. Great project👍

I see these as becoming part of a room divider/privacy screen...freestanding, viewable from both sides, serving functional and artistic expression ... sort of like the sliding transluscent doors you see in Asian themed movies. Well done in any case! To beautiful a body of work to be hung just clumped together!❤❤

I have been doing sashiko for about 30 years and find it the most relaxing of all the needle arts.

A thin frame around each and place artwork on a focus wall. You did an amazing art project. Such an accomplishment. Well done.

Are you so so proud of yourself? Because this is an amazing achievement! I couldn't look away as you revealed the final set, and the most intricate patterns looked so cozy and luxurious.

Wow! 1,085 comments at this point. Congrats o n that. I did some Sashiko during “lockdown” when Covid 19 was new and almost all of us separated from the rest of society. My understanding was that this method was used to extend the life of clothing. I had some well loved (and wearing thin in the lower thigh) jeans. My information was to use Perle cotton which comes in a wound spool. I layered my patching fabric inside of the pant leg, tacked it in placed and stitched samples of different designs next to each other across the whole patching area. The leg designs weren’t matching but the patching should help my jeans last years longer and, best part, have made these jeans warmer in the cold winter months. Hope you enjoy this stitchery as much as I did.

You're thoughts on why you embroider and don't need patience makes total sense! You could put the sashiko together into curtain panels for your house!

As someone that is bad at quilting, you can organize the squares by similar size and then grade a border between the squares to make them the same size. Then to show off both sides of the embrodery, ON ONE side make a sandwich of border stripe embrodery block, border stripe; sew; iron away from the embrodery block; iron under the seam allowance on the opposite side of the boder stripe; tuck next embrodery block in the seam allowance; ladder stitch in place; repeat down the row. Do similar for columns and tell anyone that guilts you about the backing that it is a summer quilt and you live in GD California - so they can F right off. (I think it would be beautiful and reminds me of a quilt I saw - not in person - where the front and back were pieced identically so light would shine through the organza layers. She quilted a stained glass window cover...)

Lovely watching you progress through all those stiches. I am a complete beginner and I found this very encouraging..

Your timing is impeccable. I desperately needed something focus-intense to keep my mind and hands busy the last couple of weeks and you gave that to me with this video! As far as new hobbies go, this was pretty cheap if you don’t mind not being picky about authenticity. I have been sending this to everyone I know! ❤

Favorites: Transfigured blue ocean wave, linked plovers, double woven bamboo, wickerwork, square stitches, pampas grass, hemp leaf, hitomezashi linked steps, and latticed flower which I think we saw you working on and which I loved the process of! (or was it the floral tortoiseshell -- I love both of them, and I don't remember now which one you showed yourself working on, where part of the stitch went under or around previous stitches rather than going through the fabric? Fascinating!) And what a wonderful art gallery it makes seeing them all hung up!

Ty for taking us on this journey…. I love progress videos rather than just showing off the end result… so much more fascinating 🤗🤗🤗

Make them onto a book for your coffee table. Embroider the front and rear cover as well as the binding. Use those pieces to cover wood panels for the cover. Bind all your panels together on one edge. Assemble cover. Stitch through hinge between covers and spine to secure all.

I don't know how much you would enjoy doing more of the same, but organizing all of the squares by size, then working on the idea of what to do with these 12 large ones, these 12 medium ones, and these 12 smaller ones....I see 3 beautiful hangings of different shapes in 3 different rooms or on 3 different walls. Mondrian. Neutral borders to not take away from stitches. I love this post of yours!

Embroidery floss is a great sub if you're doing something decorative, however if you're doing mending I recommend getting the Sashiko thread. It doesn't separate into multiple threads easily, it's tighter spun, and it's overall a sturdier thread. I've done mending with embroidery floss and it just doesn't hold up long term on something like pants.

Sashiko is relaxing, taught myself lash year, used cotton fabric and floss till I got the hang of it. I now have the needles and thread to do it properly. Good destressing exercise.

I have been doing embroidery my whole life since my childhood. Learned from my mother. And had a great time making others learn too. But the whole world is full of different styles to offer in embroidery too. It’s fascinating. I loved your work. You have really done a great job. It’s about love and passion, not about patience. We enjoy what we do. Isn’t it? Thanks 🙏

This is actually so amazing!! I think that it is such an awesome technique. I'm glad you were able to find the fabric to use and then share this new talent with the rest of us.

Okay, you have me "wow-ing" here! So proud of YOU! WOW! Beautiful work! May this lift you wherever you see yourself go. Love your determination! You go, girl!!!!! Lotsa love from New Mexico!

28:55 your story about the guy who asked: what are you knitting... Made me remember when Quilted Northern bathroom tissue started an animated advertising campaign where two ladies were sitting at a quilting frame, each with a pair of knitting needles. It ran many times a day all across the nation on TV and in print ads for months before they release a revised version where the ladies ditched the knitting needles and were sewing (with the stab method) the quilt on the quilting frame. I bet someone got fired for not catching that mistake. 💖🌞🌵😷

You're amazing ❤ You accomplished so much 🎉❤ Such a relaxing type of embroidery with just the running stitch 😊

Instead of a quilt, you can use white strips to make a summer coverlet. This way, the front and back will show, you just need to have finished edges on the strips.

You should make another 36 squares exactly like the ones you just finished and then sew the like pieces together so you can see the front of one side and the back of the other and fill it with batting to make throw pillows. Scatter them throughout your home to create a running theme that connects all of the rooms of your house.

This video brought a smile to my face today. I love your silly sense of humor, and that scene where you hang all your works of art is so enjoyable. I don't know if you made that dress yourself or not, but it hangs beautifully. Thank you for making my morning a special one :)

Regarding what you should do with your sashiko since it should be seen from both sides, I would make a room divider with individual glass panels for each of the designs. Sandwich the individual designs between 2 glass panels and then have a wood frame built around the panels so you can see your lovely work from both sides. The glass would also protect the project for years to come.

I get the "I don't have the patience to crochet" a lot when I'm working on something around other people, and I think it's that people don't necessarily realize that fiber arts of that type (embroidery, cross-stitch, knitting, crochet, and probably others that I don't actively do) are extremely zen. They occupy your hands and enough of your brain that the other ten thousand thoughts that normally crowd your mind (or maybe just mine) are quiet and you can just...relax. It's meditative. Sure, there are times where you've been working on a project for a month and you're two rows away from the end and you get impatient, but in general, the much longer chunk of project time is just you relaxing and maybe listening to an audiobook or watching something on TV that you've been meaning to watch but your ADHD wouldn't quiet down long enough for you to binge it.

For anyone out there interested in learning sashiko, if you're in the US, you can buy a sashiko placemat kit for ~$15-20, thread for ~$5, needles for ~$10, and a palm thimble for ~$5. You can also get a complete starter kit for ~$40. A few years ago, I did this myself. I watched a few youtube videos to get started, and I now have several nice placemats. Buying the tools designed for this very specific craft will reduce your hand strain and make the process wayyyyyy faster and more enjoyable. You can get so many more stitches completed when you use a longer sashiko needle! I'd compare learning sashiko without the correct needle/thimble to learning to knit using crochet hooks. It's possible, but why put yourself through that stress for more than a few weeks? For example, this video from a Japanese sashiko expert was really helpful as I started to learn the technique: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fppmZ9hl1sWud58.html