Sashiko: the meditative art of visible mending
Dating back to the 1600's, Sashiko is an ancient form of Japanese embroidery, originally used as a mending technique to reinforce seams and mend worn fabric. Kate discovered Sashiko when looking for a way to visibly mend her favourite jeans.
"My initial venture into Sashiko was all about mending and then moving on to selling a finished product by producing bags and purses, but something was missing. The art of Sashiko really spoke to me. Apart from the graphic beauty of the stitches, I feel that the joy of Sashiko is the meditative act of stitching, the way you need to sit down and relax, that's where all the magic happens. The answer was to produce patterns and kits for like-minded makers."
For Kate, Sashiko is about more than beautiful stitching, it's a way to keep clothes out of landfill. Visible mending gives worn or damaged garments a second life, turning a repair into a feature rather than something to hide. Every pattern and kit is designed to help you do the same: mend what you already own, slow down while you do it, and end up with something more beautiful than when you started.
Each design, including the geometric Triple Persimmon flower stitch, the diagonal Peaks Collection and the dynamic Hydrangea, comes with thorough step-by-step instructions, both written and visual. Choose a digital pattern to stitch with your own materials, a ready-to-go kit with everything included, or start small with a beginner-friendly sampler — a lovely way to try Sashiko for the first time, or introduce it to kids.
