These techniques use basic stitches, so it’s okay if you can’t embroider:) The charm and uniqueness of the repairs and stitching is just about the hand stitches, which are natural rather than machine-like.

Pieces of fabric and tools are provided, but you can also bring your own garment – mostly dark coloured, perhaps worn-out jeans that you would like to “enhance” with Sashiko stitches, or just decorate your clothes by sewing on colourful patches, patchwork elements. For inspiration and pictures, check out the event, we look forward to seeing you there!

Sashiko: (刺し子, literally “little stitches”) is a type of traditional Japanese stitching used to strengthen clothes for functional purposes, but also for decorative purposes. Since indigo dyed blue cloth and cotton thread used to be cheap in Japan, the traditional look of sashiko is white and blue embroidery. Most sashiko use only plain running stitch techniques (worm stitch-style), which are joined together in geometric, decorative patterns.

Boro: The word itself means rag: the technique of patching worn garments with Sashiko stitching. On the internet, you can find a lot of kimonos made of different patches. The patches are often decorated with straight lines of dense worm stitches.