Find a sharp object, grab a piece of cloth, and repeatedly plunge the spiky object into the cloth – does this sound a lot like stabbing something? Well, if you have ever likened quilting to stabbing, you are not alone. The Japanese art of Sashiko quilting literally translates into “little stabs,” and this type of quilting is extremely popular throughout Japan.

You can easily recognize Sashiko quilting by the distinctive white stitches upon a blue background. Even though this type of quilting was once used solely to repair worn clothing, Sashiko is now used to create colorful, and sturdy, quilts. On occasion, Japanese quilters will use a red Sashiko stitch in order to mark special garments and quilts, but usually white is the chosen color. Although Sashiko has not yet gained in popularity throughout North America, this type of quilting is sure to catch on very soon.

The last book written about Sashiko was published in 1824, and the patterns found within this book are still used as guidelines today. Sashiko quilting patterns include, Tate-Jima; Yoko-Jima; Koshi; Nakamura Koshi; Hishi-moyo; Yarai; Fundo; and many more. If you are interested in learning about Sashiko designs, but you don’t have access to any texts from 1824, there are many different sources that highlight this style all over the internet. The next time that you are searching for an interesting pattern, turn to Sashiko. This type of quilting may be popular in Japan, but if you are to use Sashiko on your next quilt, your handiwork will certainly draw a lot of attention.

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