Learn Sashiko: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Everything you need to get started with Sashiko — right here in one video. 🧵 Sashiko is a traditional Japanese embroidery technique using a simple running stitch in a distinctive 3:2 ratio. It's meditative, beginner-friendly, and the results are absolutely beautiful. In this complete guide, Jill walks you through every tool, every thread, and every technique you need — from your very first stitch to finishing off neatly. No complicated skills needed. If you can thread a needle, you can do Sashiko. You'll learn: ✅ Which fabrics work best — and why you don't need expensive Japanese linen to start ✅ Pre-printed vs plain fabric — and why pre-printed is NOT cheating ✅ Sashiko threads vs embroidery floss — and why it matters ✅ Jill's genius plaited thread storage method (class favourite!) ✅ How to thread a sashiko needle (and why a needle threader is essential) ✅ The Sewline chalk pencil — the finest fabric marker you've never heard of ✅ How to use a hera marker to score invisible stitch lines ✅ The hem border trick that saves 200 stitches per piece ✅ The 3:2 stitch ratio that makes it Sashiko — not just running stitch ✅ Bridging stitches — what they are and how to do them ✅ How to draw your own grid patterns and use stencils ✅ How to finish off your thread without a single knot Whether you're picking up a needle for the first time or you've tried Sashiko before and got confused — this is the video to start with. 00:00 Welcome & Introduction 01:01 Sashiko Fabrics — What to Look For 03:42 Pre-Printed Fabric (Olympus) — Why Beginners Should Start Here 05:13 Jill's Japanese Sewing Box 05:41 Sashiko Needles — Long, Short & What to Look For 07:31 Sashiko Thread — Types, Weights & Brands 10:47 How to Prepare & Store Your Threads (The Plait Method) 20:53 The Sewline Chalk Pencil — A Game-Changer for Marking 22:29 The Hera Marker — Scoring Invisible Stitch Lines 24:01 Setting Your Hem Border (The 200-Stitch Saving Tip) 28:47 Bridging Stitches Explained 36:16 The Sashiko Stitch Ratio — What Makes It Sashiko 38:56 Your First Stitches — Threading, Knotting & Getting Going 53:52 Drawing Your Own Designs — Grids & Stencils 56:36 Resume Here — Grid & Stencil Techniques 59:53 Using Sashiko Stencils for Perfect Lines 01:01:57 Finishing Off Your Thread —————————————————————————— 🛒 SUPPLIES USED IN THIS VIDEO Jill's Book → Sashiko: 20 Projects Using Traditional Japanese Stitching (by Jill Clay) 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/4xuOtNl 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/43fzY1Z Threads → Daruma Yokota Sashiko Thread, Sunflower Yellow #204 (thin, 40m card) 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/4v1wGvy 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/4dRTZld → Yokota Daruma Jumbo Skein 100m, Natural #102 (white) 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/4xhyjqs 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/4vrXN2s → Olympus Sashiko Thread 100m Skein, col.114 Light Brown 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/49IyqkA 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/4v1xcK0 → FREEBLOSS Sashiko Thread, Multi-colour Skeins 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/43jPIkp 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/4obA1W5 Needles → Cosmo Hidamari Sashiko Needles — Set of 6 with Threader (Made in Japan) 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/49KfGBn 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/4fYALf6 → Olympus Sashiko Needles — 2 per pack 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/4uhjSzS 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/4fuAT5Y → Tulip Long Sashiko Needles Assorted — Tube of 6 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/4xdCL9x 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/4g35DLl Marking Tools → Sewline Mechanical Fabric Pencil — White (Jill's chalk pen) 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/3Q5EtJd 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/43jNUI8 → Clover Hera Marker — for scoring invisible stitch lines 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/49Jhg6s 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/4foZV6q Stencils & Templates → 19pc Sashiko Stencil Set — Geometric Patterns, 5.1 x 5.1 inch 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/4g9JF9w 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/43eqeVH → BENECREAT Acrylic Sashiko Stencils — Dots, Lines, Arcs & Slashes 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/4dOMITe 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/4dRU7kH Fabric → Sashiko Cotton Fabric — Dark Navy 1m x 1.42m 🇬🇧 https://amzn.to/4uhjZeM 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/4dUrkvO As an Amazon Associate, Festival of Craft earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't affect the price you pay. 💬 Questions about Sashiko? Drop them in the comments — Jill answers every one! And if you're interested in joining one of our live craft days, let us know below. ——————— Subscribe for more Japanese-inspired craft, taught through film. 🌸 About Festival of Craft We share the stories, crafts, and techniques of Japanese textiles through film. Explore more at: https://FestivalOfCraft.com 📬 Join our newsletter for free patterns, tutorials and Japanese craft inspiration: https://FestivalOfCraft.com 👍 Subscribe for more craft, textiles, and mindful making: 👉 youtube.com/@FestivalofCraft --- #Sashiko #JapaneseEmbroidery #SashikoForBeginners #JapaneseCraft #SashikoTutorial #TextileArt #HandEmbroidery #SlowCraft #MindfulMaking #SashikoThread #JapaneseSewing #TraditionalCraft #FestivalOfCraft #CraftTutorial #EmbroideryForBeginners #VisibleMending #Indigo #SashikoStitch #QuiltingLife #Needlework