“Use whatever you want” is a valid statement when they know the difference & how hard the origin worked to make it happen. A thimble and Sashiko needles (with specific length) is “optional” for Sashiko only when they know how to use them (otherwise, it is just an excuse for their lack of skill). Stitching from the back of the fabric? Making Knots to stop or NOT making knots to stop? It is a choice of “Sashiko practitioners”, not a rule or answer – therefore, if they teach, they need to be able to do both – Again, it cannot be an excuse for their lack of skill and understanding.
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If Sashiko is a practice of filling the “each stitch printed on the fabric”, then the stitchers experience a part of Sashiko. There is nothing wrong with stitching on the “each stitch sized pre-printed fabric”. I can do that if I have to (I do not prefer the fabric to tell me what to do, though). However, after experiencing the moment of “letting the needle run”, then we can talk about Sashiko within the ordinary. Try not to control the needle as your partner too much. Ask him/her what they want. When you run, don’t you trust your legs? Or… do you measure how long each interval has to be in each step?
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日常に置いて「繰り返しのリズム」って、普通に存在します。運針もその一つ。正解もへったくれもない。手と針と指ぬきにお任せして運針を楽しめば良いのです。玉ねぎのスライス。一つずつ物差しでmmを測り、印を付けて切りますか？ランニング。毎回のステップの長さ、いちいち測りますか？アスリートでも無い限り、そんなことはしないはず。
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玉ねぎに印を付けるとか、インターバルを気にすることが間違っているという訳ではありません。それを「日本ではこうされている」と全体像として語られるのが嫌なんです。刺し子には正解はありません。地域毎に成り立ちも技術も捉え方も違う。ただ、日本文化を当たり前としない人が、「ある（特定の）刺し子が全てだ」と断言すること程、怠慢で危険なことはないと思うんですよね。
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2021-06-29 15:15:00
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Beautifully explained! I am so happy to find your insta.
Thank you so much for helping us to understand and learn from your experience, your culture, your philosophy. ❤️
I love the idea of treating the needle as your partner and asking what it wants. When working with clay I always listen to the clay and what it wants to become.
❤️ Once again… great insight
Also … where do you buy sashiko needles from?
ひとつの技法を紹介する上で、「これが全て」と「これはその中(刺し子)のひとつです」では全く意味が違ってきますよね。
I think I am going to have to read your words settle in my many times and let them settle in my mind, before I begin to stitch. 🙏
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Great analogy with legs and running. For me it was sensible to learn the traditional ways and later experiment. For me: I don’t like stitching from the front, I usually make a knot (but I won’t where it will make a difference), and I like to have a very wide choice of thread colors. I make my choices with respect to the tradition but need to recognize what works for me. 🙂
Letting the needle be your partner, and then dancing with the cloth as you stitch. All the parts work together to become something stronger and more beautiful.
“letting the needle run,” so beautiful.