Contents
- Welcome to the Sashiko Tote Bag Tutorial
- Included in the Sashiko Tote Bag
- Preparing for your Sashiko Tote Bag
- Step by Step Instructions for your Sashiko Tote Bag
- Wrapping up your Sashiko Tote Bag Project
Welcome to the Sashiko Tote Bag Tutorial
Hello and welcome! If you've purchased the Sashiko Tote Bag Kit then you're in the right place for all your instructions.If you haven't purchased the kit, feel free to enjoy the tutorial or go get your own kit HERE!
In this tutorial we will go over everything you need to know about how to use Sashiko stitching to applique a swatch onto another item. You can use this purely as decoration or you can use this to patch holes or improve strength in weak spots.
If you haven't already, check out the Sashiko Tote Bag playlist over on YouTube crafted especially for you and this kit. There is a welcome video from the team, video tutorials and lots of other helpful videos to continue on with your sashiko skills.
Ready to dive in? Let's go!
Included in your Sashiko Tote Bag Kit
Included in your Sashiko kit:
- A bundle of beautiful linen swatches in an assortment of colors (varies for each kit)
- A recycled Cotton heavy weight tote bag
- Sashiko Thread in 2 colors
- Needle pack
- Leather finger guard (thimble)
- An assortment of stick on transfer patterns, enough for this project and many more
- All packaged in a reusable zipper pouch
Preparing for your Sashiko Tote Bag Project
Now that you have all your supplies gathered, clear a space where you will have ample working room and set the mood. Put on some music, make yourself a cup of tea. Enter into your project as if you're entering into a ritual -- because you are! You are activating your creativity which is a beautiful practice of love for yourself and the world around you. Take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to get excited! You're about to make something wonderful that will feed a new habit of mending and sustainability and a skill that is priceless. And try to put any thoughts of "I have no idea what I'm doing" or "I'll be terrible at this" aside. It's just not true! You're here to learn and grow -- let's focus on that!
Step by Step Instructions for your Sashiko Tote Bag Project
Begin your project by laying out your fabric swatches and deciding on your design. Do you want to layer your swatches? Align them all in a row? Do you want to skip the swatches and only embellish your tote with stitching? Make your design decisions now.
You'll first want to slip the leather thimble onto your finger. You'll use this to push the needle through the fabric so you don't end up with sore fingers.
- Lay out your fabric or decide on your design. Then choose which of the stick on transfer patterns you'd like to use first. Peel off the back and stick onto the tote.
- Thread your needle and knot the end. Begin stitching from the bottom and pull the needle up through the tote, fabric and transfer pattern. You'll follow the guides back and forth stitching one line at a time. Make sure you're only going through one layer of tote and not stitching your tote closed!
- Keep going until you're finished, then end your stitching inside the tote bag and tie a knot.
- Using a wet cloth or take your project to the sink, get the entire transfer pattern wet until it begins to dissolve. Wipe away any access and allow it to dry completely.
- Continue on with your design, using as many swatches, transfer patterns and thread colors as you wish!
Wrapping up your Sashiko Tote Bag Project
Now that you have the basics, make sure to check out the YouTube playlist for more projects and more advanced techniques.
Thanks for following along and growing with us. To continue on your mending journey and learn even more skills, check out the other mending kits and projects. And if you haven't purchased the sashiko tote bag kit, you can do that HERE.
See you soon!
xx
The Grow Creative Team