Early Completion of my current Sashiko project – Asanoha on the large fabric for the door curtain (to block the cold air). Most of the stitching process is available to watch on Youtube Archives (https://www.youtube.com/c/SashiCo/).
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The primary purpose of today’s Sashiko is to “decorate” fabric. To make fabric more beautiful & enjoyable with stitching on various patterns is the main. Personally speaking, however, the feeling I feel when I complete the project is “emptiness (missing)” rather than “satisfaction(accomplishment)”. That is because I like the “stitching process” the most. It is meditative, yet different from the meditation I do every morning. It is more like a “dialogue”. I share the importance of talking to the fabric to have good Sashiko. For me, Sashiko is an opportunity to talk to myself while talking to the fabric. Do you hear the voice of fabric (as a metaphor). Are you kind to let you talk to yourself? It was a good Friday night.
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ニュースをご覧になっている方はご存知かもしれませんが、米国では再度コロナが猛威をふるっています。寒くなり乾燥してきて、状況は厳しくなってきました。もしかしたら来週からの配信を再度お休みすることになるかもしれない&刺し子をする時間が取れなくなるかもしれないので、昨晩、じっくりと刺し子を楽しみました。無言で。でも頭の中は大忙しで。
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刺し子の最終目的は、布を修飾することです。柄を考え、結果を頭に入れながら針を進めて素敵な作品を作る。昔の人は、ここに「布の補強と補修」の意味合いも持たせました。修飾と補強と補修、どれが先で後なのかは地域によっても違いがあると思いますが、「布を大切にする」という刺し子はどこでも一緒だったように思います。
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目的は柄を作ることなのですが、僕は針を動かす時間が一番好きです。これだけ大きな布を刺し終わって感じるのは、達成感というよりは寂しさだったりします。また違うの刺せば良いだけなんですけどね。極論を言えば、柄はなんでも良かったりするのかもしれません。自分と向き合う時間。過去の自分を省る時間。毎朝の瞑想は今も続けていますが、また瞑想とは違った何かがあるんですよね。次は何を刺そうかな。
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2020-11-21 13:10:11

So beautiful 👏🏼 thank you ♥️
This is very similar to how mending is to me. When I started 4 years ago it became a symbolic process for me, teaching me how to try to take care of myself as well. Teaching me about how things will always change, and that that is OK, and good and natural, but we need to be patient and kind with ourselves and each other, just like we are with the cloth we mend.
i know this feeling of emptiness very well when having completed a project… that’s why i like projects that allow me to go on for quite a while. it is comforting to know there are some stitches waiting to be made whenever i need a quiet moment for myself and my mind. having access to sashiko as a stitching practice through you passing on your knowledge is something i am very greatful for.
👌👌😍😍😍👏👏