Talking about the traditional use of Sashiko

The Lowell Quilt Festival was held from August 12 to August 14. All the people helping the show has been busy, especially the day before the show started. There was more than 300 quilt to hang and I took a privilege to help hanging the quilts for a few hours so I could touch and see them so close by. There were amazing quilts that the makers must have put 100s of hours to hand-stitch.

There was a lot of great vendors this year that I really enjoyed exploring and shopping after giving demos. I got a teddy bear made from old patchworked fabric. The demo of making your own flip-flop at Red Barn Sewing Center was fun to watch.

Looking at samples

Showing running stitches

I was so exited to give Sashiko demo for all 3 days of the show. There were 20 – 30 people came to my demo. It was fun to interact with people, answering questions and introducing Japan that are something new to them. Many of them already heard of or sew Sashiko, or have done Sashiko. What was most new to the audience was “How to transfer your own design onto the fabric”. They are excited to know the method and tools such as waxed carbon paper, serrated tracing wheel and Tracer pen.
We use 2 types of thimbles in Japan; one goes on the middle finger between first and second knuckles, and the other one goes onto the palm. Many of them wanted to try the one goes on the palm after the demo.

Very busy one hour everyday, but the most enjoyable demo I had!