Taking a stab

I did my sashiko (which means little stabs, insert groan at title pun here) class yesterday and it was great.

Sashiko is quite simple but there are some tricks to getting it all to look good, so worth taking a class. I did mine at Kimono House in Melbourne. It's not worked with a hoop so the tension is important (which effects how you work the stitches/change directions etc hence the handiness of a class). But not being worked with a hoop also makes it very portable. You really only need your thread, material and needle/scissors (and you can precut the threads so you could even live without scissors...so you might be able to take it on a plane perhaps? Will have to check out the Aussie stance on a sewing needle (knitting needles and crochet hooks are no go).

Sashiko designs are stencilled onto the fabric first, then you stitch them. I've previously only really done cross-stitch before so it was relaxing just to have to follow the stencil and not think too much. Quite meditative plus easier to do while watching TV or something as it doesn't require quite as much focus. You make several stitches with your needle at a time (or more than that with a straight line design) so it's relatively speedy too. I'll definitely be doing some more!

Here's my progress to date...

Tomorrow

Tomorrow I'm going here to learn how to do this:




(Photo from Handmaiden)

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a sucker for blue. Pair it with white and I'm generally even happier. And I love the simplicity and elegance of Sashiko designs.

So yay! I shall report back.

While we're in completing mode

Obviously I am productive gal today because, besides finishing my book draft (woot!), I also finished one of the bags from my class.

This is the Hobo by Nicole Mallalieu. It's a nice easy to put together pattern with some good skills to learn in straps, putting in a zippered gusset (my first go at this) and various pocket options.

The fabrics are both quilting weights from Spotlight (the outer being more blue and green than mostly blue like in these). Looking forward to giving it lots of use.



Strap detail (antique brass-y O rings also from Nikki's shop) with improving topstitching abilities by me, thanks to Nikki's tips!



The gusseted zip (which I like a lot, I'm fond of zips for bags).



And a glimpse at my couldn't-resist-it silly smiling skull and crossbones lining (and zip pocket). Maybe a pirate bag will attract a pirate (hey, a girl can hope *g*).

Progress

Had a great time in class* yesterday, despite Melbourne turning on a heatwave (and a blackout for about an hour or so in the middle of our class!). Learned heaps about the tricky bits and finishing secrets for bags (zips, straps, structured bases) and made progress on, but did not finish either of mine, so will have to keep sewing over the next few weeks.

Nikki is a great, relaxed, fun teacher with oodles of knowledge. Hopefully one day I can do one of her longer bag courses.

Given I can't show off a finished product, here's a glimpse of a bag in progress.



*I did the one day A Sharper Edge course.