I believe one core essence of Sashiko is “Communication via needle & thread to myself” – and “Dialogue via fabric to memories (others)”. Even stitches and beautiful patterns are important, but secondary. I am stitching 100 meters of Asano-ha patterns to introduce this priority. I say out loud as if I invented this. No, of course not. If you are a “fabric person”, “Communication to/via Fabric” is as natural as common sense. Fabric talks. Fabrics carry memories.
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The “talk” between me and fabric is “dialogue” – not a lecture or persuasion. In this communication, there is no right or wrong, high or low (status), or even often Good or Bad. It is just “a talk” with no goal to reach the specific conclusion, which we who live in today’s society aren’t good at. Talking without a purpose to “improve”, “fix”, or even “enjoy”.
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While I share the importance of “the mean (中道)” – outside of Dualism, many ask me to provide the “definition” and answers which give them a sense of Right and Wrong. Therefore, when one say they really want to learn Sashiko, I ask them to take my workshop “Core & Basic” no matter how skilled they are in sewing – Unfortunately, “One form of Japanese Sashiko” that I practice is NOT introduced in English at all. As far as I know, I am the only one who shares the concept & how to practice (technique) to follow the concept. Sashiko is simple and easy to stitch. However, it comes with extremely rich stories. Sashiko is more than what you know & think, especially if you aren’t familiar with Japanese Language & Culture. Don’t think light about us who spend their entire lives in this “easy” stitching. I teach how to be on the startline to reach the Core & Essence. However, it takes years to fully get there. I believe my students who took Core & Essence know about it more than anyone. Sashiko is more than what the Western Culture defines.
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「刺し子に生涯を費やす」なんて馬鹿なことできますかと考えていた若い頃。実際「大の男が針仕事なんて。もっとしっかりとした仕事しなさい。」と言われたこともあります。自分の価値を他人に押し付けることの危険性というか、どれだけ人を馬鹿にしているかという話です。刺し子は簡単だと紹介されます。確かに簡単です。ただ、浅くはないのです。そこに人生を懸けた人がいる以上、軽いものであるはずがない。誇りを持ちたいものです。
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2022-06-28 10:15:51
i remember sewing something out of silk taffeta and the fabric kind of sang while i was pulling the needle and thread through it. i could tell the tension in my stitches by the sound they made.
i wanted to thank you for your stories that you share. my mom and i were going through some of my grandma’s sewing supplies that have been in storage since her death and we decided to give some of her needles and basic tools to one of my cousin’s kids who has just discovered a love of sewing. i wrote him a letter telling him about the lineage of sewing in our family, how important i think it is to be connected to the labor that puts clothes on your back, and the hari kuyou for needles at the end of their lives. he’s not related to the japanese side of my family, but i think he’ll be able to appreciate the ritual, especially for our grandma’s needles.
❤️ it is really interesting what you say about not understanding the fabric (and underestimating it!) We are so used to mass-produced fabric these days. It takes the soul out of the fabric especially when it reproduces traditional weaving/stitching/dying/patterns. And creating for the sense of creation not for a result or a profit seems to be lost.