The Thread Matters in Sashiko. So, my first recommendation is to get the thread. Then, try the needle designed for Sashiko Purpose with so many stories explaining why we call it “Sashiko Needles”.
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On SNS (mainly on Facebook), I often find a piece of inaccurate information about the Needles. They say that the Sashiko Needle should have a large “Eye” because the Sashiko Thread is thick. Well… not really as you can see the eye of our needle. It is just a matter of skill if one can thread the needle or not…. Some manufacturers made a needle with big eyes for the ease & convenience (and there is nothing wrong with that), but it doesn’t explain the most important story.
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Why is the eye of our needle so small? The answer comes naturally when we think of the original purpose of Sashiko. The Japanese practiced Sashiko to make the fabric “Stronger”… well, if the needle eye is gigantic like the double or triple size of the thread… what would happen in a repetition of stitching?
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All of the tools “should” have stories like this. There are reasons why the artisans keep using them. Under the same name umbrella, Kogin Sashiko Needle has quite dull needle tops in contrast to our Sashiko Needle with extremely sharp tops. We have a story for that, too.
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So, don’t use Kogin for the Sashiko we practice. Vise Versa. When you have a choice, try to get the one living artisans recommend. It may be more costly than the mass-produced items… but it will be more cost efficient when you keep enjoying Sashiko.
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2024-04-09 10:15:07
