Sashiko Stitching

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Hello Farmgirl Friends!

I’m excited to share my latest quilting project with you!  I’ve had a thought in the back of my mind for a long time to sew a whole quilt using Sashiko hand-stitching.  I have dabbled in the Japanese Sashiko stitching through the years and even wrote a blog post about it here.  But I’ve never attempted a full quilt.

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Recently I was contacted by the fabric manufacturer, Shannon Fabrics, to see if I would like some samples of their double gauze fabric to do some sewing with.  I was so excited because it’s been a dream of mine to make a quilt with double gauze and then a light bulb went off that pairing Sashiko stitching with double gauze fabric is genius!!!

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When the fabric came I was so thrilled with the way it felt, the colors, the textures and I knew… it was going to be perfect!  And I got right to work cutting squares and piecing a simple patchwork quilt top.

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Sashiko is the simple process of using white thread and long stitches to form designs on fabric.  I went into it without any plan or thought process.  I just put DMC #8 white thread in my Clover Sashico needle and sat with it in my lap… winging it the entire way!  There are many patterns and designs online that you can use for guidance and I did look some over, but for the most part I just let my needle do the drawing.  Every block was different and some I really love and some I don’t!

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After I had filled many blocks with the Sashiko I began to feel like I really needed to add some color to the quilt, so I simply added patches of old fashioned looking fabric scraps I had on hand.  I simply attached them with fusible interfacing and then did some Sashiko stitching to hold them in place.  It was a very simple process that brought life to the quilt and I just began to love it more and more.

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I also used double gauze fabric for the binding and attached it the typical way but then finished it off with a decorative Sashiko stitch.

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The double gauze fabric is so incredibly soft and amazing and after I washed it, the crinkly goodness made it even softer!  Double gauze is a fabric so often used for baby swaddling blankets and now I know why!!

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I spent so many hours of hand stitching this quilt and every one was so relaxing for me.  Stitching through layers of double gauze, bamboo batting, and double gauze backing was so easy… my needle just slipped through.  If you’ve never quilted with double gauze I beg you to try it!

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This was a really fun end to a wonderful winter of sewing and now…. I’m heading into flower season and sewing is on the back burner for the next six months!

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Tell me… what is on your project table?  I’d love to hear all about it!

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Until our gravel roads cross again… so long.

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Dori

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P.S.  Here’s the backstory on the above picture: my daughter and her husband and their two little girls have a home on our farm and when I took the quilt to the woods to try to find a place to photograph it, I saw that my grand-girls were in their treehouse, so I asked for their help. You can see the four little hands holding the top of the quilt. This picture ended up being my very favorite!!

  1. Joanna Ziolkowski says:

    Your quilt really is lovely. I haven’t tried quilting, working with double gauze, or sashiko. I just came across an article you wrote on a sashiko bag. I think I will start with trying the bag first and work my way up to a quilt. Thanks for the inspiration!

  2. Marlene Capelle says:

    That turned out really great. I’m not much of a fan of Sashiko but that is a fabulous concept.

  3. Phyllis Parrish says:

    I love your quilt!! I recently discovered sashiko myself and I love it too. I tried my hand with it on a pair of levis.
    In your quilt, did you quilt the squares first then put them together or quilt it after it was pieced?
    I do enjoy your articles. Thank you for sharing.

  4. Maxine Jelinek says:

    This is just simply beautiful! I have scraps of this type of fabric from making baby clothes, and now I’m excited to see how I can use them up!

  5. Sharon says:

    Love this post as I do all that you write! I am a “fellow” Farmgirl member!

  6. Margaret h Mitchell says:

    Beautiful I’ve always wanted to hand stitch a quilt.

  7. Pamela says:

    Loved seeing the gauze fabric and the shashiko stitch in action. Where might I obtain the fabric?

  8. Rebecca says:

    Beautiful! You do such wonderful work. The last picture is perfect with those little fingers holding up the quilt. I have so many projects started and hope to finish some of them this summer. I planted lilies yesterday and woke to a dusting snow this morning.

  9. Karen Kudla says:

    Your quilt is beautiful! You’ve inspired me to get back to my Sashiko project, a small table topper. I too, love working with double gauze fabric. How did you keep it from shrinking too much?

  10. Linda Freeman says:

    How lovely! Thanks for sharing!

  11. Joanne says:

    Love Love Love the quilt!! The simplicity and the beauty! I am a square and rectangle quilter! No fancy stuff for me and I also prefer to use material -old clothing and t-shirts that have memories for me or the person being gifted the quilt! By using the bits of fabric you have brought life to the quilt!!
    Thank you for sharing it with us and now I have one more project idea to add to my brain— it is getting quite crowded in there!

  12. Vicki8257 says:

    Absolutely love it. Beautiful.

  13. Brenda Cervantes says:

    Lovely.

  14. Colleen says:

    Absolutely beautiful and cuddly. From your description, I can just FEEL the softness. Thank you for sharing. I’m not quite ready to “put the sewing away” yet. Rainy days are coming here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Now, YOU get out and enjoy the garden.

  15. Sarah B says:

    Absolutely beautiful! You are so talented with your crafting and quilting and I always enjoy reading your posts and seeing your latest project. I am loving this quilt! The stitching makes it so unique and all your patches add such color, thanks for sharing!

  16. Binky Thorsson says:

    Love the p.s. Aren’t grandkids the best!!!
    I will send you a photo of our Grandsons with their Tree / Boat House, my Husband Barry built a year ago at the beginning of the Pandemic.

    Thanks Dori, Binky

  17. Cindi Johnson says:

    I love this! As it happens, just last Tuesday, while searching online for quilt shops in my area, I finally found one tiny shop listed. GPS in hand, I headed out to happily find that it is close by. I was shocked when I entered this tiny store to find it creatively laid out top to bottom with fabrics, patterns, threads and kits in all sorts of beautiful sashiko styles.The owner is well versed, having attended high school in Japan where she learned this beautiful art. So I’m already set, with supplies right in front of me, to follow your lead using Shannon fabrics! I love love love your quilt!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Oh my word Cindi!!!! I want to go to this shop!!! How amazing and exciting! Please keep me posted and how it goes – I’m so anxious to hear!

      ~ Dori ~

  18. Joei Gifford says:

    I love your quilt! I started quilting at 4 yrs old. Grandma sat me under the quilting frame that Grandpa had hung from the trees overhanging the stone patio. She passed the needle down to me and I passed it back up to her. If she took out my stitches she never let me know.
    I just finished a miniature potted plant tableau for my daughter. It’s 1/12 scale and now I’m making flowers for vases in my dollhouse. Soon I will be making the dolls…covid got me into crafting/sewing/creative projects every evening.
    Great article. Thanks for sharing, Joei

  19. Marilyn says:

    The quilt is lovely. Enjoy your gardening.
    Marilyn

  20. Denise says:

    That is a beautiful quilt! What a wonderful way to relax and use those creative juices. Handstitching and making your own stitching pattern makes it one of a kind!
    Have a great day!

  21. Carol says:

    Dori … I love your fabric and the stitching is amazing! I have to look further into sashiko stitching! Right now I have a finished quilt, ready to put the binding on for my granddaughter who will turn 6 on May 9. I better get it finished soon! I am also using light green chalk paint to paint an old treadle sewing machine I got from my Mom. Then when it gets hot I will do some scrapbooking for my granddaughters! Always something on my project table! Happy Spring, Carol

  22. Kay Weseman says:

    What a great quilt AND…..inspiration! Sashiko was supposed to be my new project for 2020 but then a lot of “stuff” got in the way. It’s gonna have to roll over to 2021 now- also interested in “who” sells the double gauze fabric as well. (Will keep an eye out for it.) Your fabric on the backside goes really nice with the front fabrics. Seeing those little hands hold it up reminds me of the Amish saying “many hands make the work light”. Thanks for such an enjoyable read.

  23. Debra Gilbert says:

    I love your Sashiko stitched quilt. I’ve done a little bit with my stitching meditations. Now that I’ve seen your beautiful work, it has inspired me to try a full quilt. I love the texture of the double gauze. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me. Happy Earth Day!!!!

  24. Carol McGuire says:

    I would like to contact Dori from this article. I loved her quilt in a recent issue, however we look so much alike, we could be twins! I am also from TN.

  25. Laurie Lasala-Tuttle says:

    Just reading this today, and it’s lovely Dori! Perhaps I’ll try double gauze in a quilt, I’ve only used it for a very comfy blouse. I love that your grandgirls have a treehouse. Such fun!!

  26. judith yongue says:

    love to try . where do you get double gauze and tutorial on that Japanese type quilting
    help?

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