By now, I hope I explained clearly where I stand for the Cultural Appropriation (C/A) in Sashiko. I will not be offended by you calling your stitching Sashiko when the basic Japanese courtesy is respected (in one’s best). Please do not worry about C/A in Sashiko that much (please be attentive to the other words, like Kimono, Wabisabi and more, though. I explain the reason why I take it easy on C/A in Sashiko. The article – titled “C/A in Sashiko” – is from my profile).
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However, it doesn’t mean that I do not have any preference. I always mention this in Japanese, but I do have a very strong preference in Sashiko. It is not about “good or bad”, “right or wrong” or “beautiful or messy”. It is all about “like it or not”. The Sashiko I like is something that I can feel their process in stitches.
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Believe or not, stitches talks as the fabrics talk. I can do a “Stitches Telling” as a fortuneteller read the future based on palmistry. When I see their Japanese characteristic in stitches, I fall in love with their Sashiko. The item (on the photo) is sold, but this pincushion’s stitches are an example of my best favorite.
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Fine Art is usually made to be looked (admired) by the mass audience. The Sashiko I like is often made specifically for someone. This is another reason I am still wondering if my Sashiko is categorized as the (Fine) art. Here again, no better or worse. It is just my preference. I usually prefer the traditional look of Sashiko because it was(is) made for someone to use. At the same time, my workshop students often surprised me the very emotional touching Sashiko pieces, yet unique. Sashiko is not only about making one perfect stitching. It is more than that.
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「日本の礼節を尊重してくれれば、自由な刺し子も良いんじゃないの？」と英語で情報発信している中、少しだけ釘を。自由は良いけれど、僕の好みは伝統柄だからねっと、日本語では良く話をしている、「刺し子の好き嫌い」のお話です。相当に好き嫌いが激しい。大好きな刺し子もあれば、手元には欲しくないなぁと思う刺し子もあります。何が違うのか。正直まだわからないのですが、「刺し子（という手仕事）のどこに焦点を当てているか」で違ってくるのかなぁと思ったり。サンプルとして作ったこの針山。この針目が愛おしくて仕方ないのです。なんでだろうね、ホント。
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2019-07-02 22:32:44
うんうん。あつしさんは麻の葉の貴公子だった、そうだった✨
手にするとニッコリしてしまいますね
好きな柄、針目、刺した人にもよるかなー
Your work and your articulations on these deep matters are both thoughtful and enjoyable in a very heartfelt way. I always recommend your videos and sites whenever someone approaches me about sashiko style stitching.
I look forward to seeing your posts in my feed. I appreciate your wisdom and have learnt so much from your writings. Thank you for giving so much to the stitching community
You have given these people far more of your time then I would have – you are a generous thoughtful soul ❤️🌿
あつしさんといえば麻の葉ですねー😊
This is a question that’s been on my mind, because my first introduction to ‘Sashiko’ was actually someone using the Sashiko method but with traditional historical embroidery motifs of my home country. I believe they called their work ‘Sashiko inspired’, but I can’t remember for 100% sure.
The question that fascinates me most is what you would call a hybrid, or an off-shoot – when does something become enough of its own thing to require its own name? Let’s say someone takes traditional Japanese geometrical motifs but renders them in Hardanger embroidery: I suppose that would be Hardanger embroidery with Japanese inspiration. But if someone takes the traditional motifs associated with Hardanger embroidery but stitches them in Sashiko style – is it Sashiko with Norwegian inspiration? And what if someone combines Sashiko and Hardanger half and half, with obvious elements of both, Sashiko stitching with drawn thread embellishment: what is that?
Of course, what complicates it even further is that Hardanger is one of several styles of embroidery adapted from styles that may have come from Persia and elsewhere in Asia in centuries past. So you have Hardanger, Hedebo, Ayrshire – very distinct local styles, but with a shared origin in the distant past.
I wonder if it would be possible, in today’s world, for such different styles to develop from Sashiko, for example. Would that be seen as disrespectful of its Japanese origin? What would you call these new styles? Would it be respectful to acknowledge its Sashiko roots, or would it be more respectful to divorce it from Sashiko because of its lack of Japanese cultural context?
These are interesting questions to ponder. Thank you for the food for thought, as always.
Simplemente bellísimo😍❤️😘😂👏
Thank you so much for your generosity with your time and thoughts. 💙
Just reading these posts now. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and knowledge. Deeply appreciated. Deeply meaningful. Thank you. 💙