Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Sasiko quilting[ Pronounced: SA-SHEE-KOE] is a form of quilting originating from Japan. Centuries ago, Japanese peasants practised a running-stitch technique called "little stabs" to patch torn or worn clothes. Mending was vital as cloth and thread were scarce and therefore valuable. When white cotton thread became available, this was used for patching indigo blue garments, and this gave Sasiko its distinctive appearance. The oldest surviving item of sasiko-stitched clothing is from the Asuka period and is a Buddhist priest's robe. It was donated to a temple in AD 756. Many Sasiko patterns were derived from Chinese designs, but just as many were developed by the Japanese themselves. The artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) published the book "New Forms for Design" in 1824, and his designs have inspired many Sashiko patterns. Patterns Tate-Jima -- Vertical stripes Yoko-Jima -- Horizontal stripes Kosi [KOE-SHEE] -- checks Nakamura Kosi -- plaid of Nakamura family Hisi[HEE-SHEE]-moyo -- Diamonds Yarai -- Bamboo Fence Highi-Igeta / Tasuki -- parallel diamonds / crossed cords Kagome -- Woven Bamboo Uroko -- Fish Scales Tate-Waku -- Rising steam Fundo -- Counterweights Sippo[SHEE-POE] -- Seven Treasures of Buddha Amime -- Fishing nets Toridasuki -- Interlaced circle of two birds Chidori -- Plover Kasumi -- Mist Asanoha -- Hemp leaf Mitsuba -- Trefoil Hirayama-Michi -- Passes in the mountains Kaki No Hana -- Persimmon flower Kaminari -- Thunderbolts Inazuma -- Lightning Sayagata -- Key pattern Matsukawa-Bishi -- Pine Bark Yabane -- Arrow-feathers and many, many more This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.