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Look to the East for some fresh new quilting inspiration! This week's new designs are all about sashiko, a type of quilting and embroidery that developed in 18th century Japan and has been delighting crafters ever since. For their farmer, fisherman, or lumberjack husbands, Japanese women would use an elaborate running stitch to stitch heavy layers of fabric together for warm clothing and to repair damaged apparel. Eventually the stitches became more fanciful and developed into an art form all their own.

This week's collection brings several variations on this rich stitching tradition. Blooming sashiko gives you the best of both worlds: colorful, stitch-filled flowers on a sashiko background. Quilt through layers of fabric and batting with a bouquet of sashiko -- light, open squares with floral motifs. Decorate quilts, pillows, bags, and more with multicolored sashiko-inspired designs. And finally, combine the traditional repeating style of sashiko with applique flowers for a timeless yet distinctive look.

Scroll down the page to browse this week's new designs, and let your home bloom with the delight of sashiko embroidery!

Sashiko embroidery gets a homespun treatment in this rag quilt table runner! Click here for free project instructions.

Blooming Sashiko

Combine the hand-stitched look of sashiko with the beauty and detail of stitch-filled embroidery! These floral designs, based on the vibrant stars of our original Japanese Sashiko collection, will be gorgeous on everything from quilt blocks to elegant purses. A dark indigo background is traditional, but you can stitch these beauties wherever you like!

Rubrum Lily Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X7.75" and 5.85"X5.83" and 4.87"X4.86" and 3.85"X3.84"

Phalaenopsis Orchid Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X7.80" and 5.85"X5.85" and 4.85"X4.85" and 3.85"X3.85"

Lotus Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X7.80" and 5.85"X5.85" and 4.85"X4.85" and 3.85"X3.85"

Magnolia Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X7.79" and 5.85"X5.86" and 4.83"X4.84" and 3.85"X3.87"

Japanese Lantern Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X7.80" and 5.85"X5.85" and 4.85"X4.85" and 3.85"X3.85"

Japanese Anemone Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.72"X7.73" and 5.85"X5.87" and 4.84"X4.85" and 3.85"X3.88"

Peacock Orchid Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X7.80" and 5.85"X5.85" and 4.85"X4.85" and 3.85"X3.85"

Iris Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X7.79" and 5.85"X5.86" and 4.85"X4.84" and 3.85"X3.82"

A Blooming Sashiko Value Pack

Surround yourself with a colorful garden of blooming sashiko embroidery! The Blooming Sashiko design packs contain 8 designs, priced at only $12.97! Click on an image or link below to see the designs included in the pack, and add the pack to your basket.


All designs smaller than 7.9 x 7.9	All designs smaller than 6 x 10	All designs smaller than 5 x 7

All designs smaller than 4 x 4

Combine stitch-filled designs like the blooming sashiko above with light, open designs made for quilting through layers of fabric and batting, like the bouquet of sashiko, below! Search for "sashiko" to find more of both types of designs. Click here to see this stunning sashiko quilt, made by German embroiderer Elena, in the Stitchers Showcase!

Bouquet of Sashiko

Light and open, these designs are perfect for sashiko's traditional purpose of quilting through layers of fabric. But they come with a lively twist -- the single row of running stitches that makes up each design cleverly bends and folds to create an intricate flower image. For each square, there's a border of matching width, to fit your every sashiko stitching need. Click here for instructions.

Morning Glory Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.77"X7.77" and 5.80"X5.80" and 4.84"X4.84" and 3.83"X3.83"

Morning Glory Sashiko Border

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X1.95" and 5.85"X1.46" and 4.85"X1.20" and 3.85"X0.95"

Cherry Blossom Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X7.80" and 5.82"X5.82" and 4.85"X4.85" and 3.84"X3.84"

Cherry Blossom Sashiko Border

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X1.98" and 5.85"X1.48" and 4.85"X1.23" and 3.85"X0.98"

Lily Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.72"X7.79" and 5.79"X5.84" and 4.85"X4.89" and 3.81"X3.85"

Lily Sashiko Border

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X1.97" and 5.85"X1.48" and 4.85"X1.22" and 3.85"X0.97"

Iris Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X7.78" and 5.85"X5.83" and 4.80"X4.78" and 3.85"X3.84"

Iris Sashiko Border

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X1.67" and 5.85"X1.48" and 4.85"X1.04" and 3.85"X0.81"

Orchid Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X7.79" and 5.86"X5.85" and 4.79"X4.78" and 3.85"X3.85"

Orchid Sashiko Border

Available in four sizes:
7.85"X2.04" and 5.85"X1.52" and 4.85"X1.26" and 3.85"X1.00"

Lotus Sashiko Square

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X7.75" and 5.85"X5.81" and 4.77"X4.74" and 3.84"X3.82"

Lotus Sashiko Border

Available in four sizes:
7.80"X1.98" and 5.85"X1.48" and 4.85"X1.23" and 3.85"X0.98"

A Bouquet of Sashiko Value Pack

Stitch a light and lovely garden with sashiko designs perfect for quilting! The Bouquet of Sashiko design packs contain 12 designs, priced at only $15.97! Click on an image or link below to see the designs included in the pack, and add the pack to your basket.


All designs smaller than 7.9 x 7.9	All designs smaller than 6 x 10	All designs smaller than 5 x 7

All designs smaller than 4 x 4

Understated quilting really shines in this quilted town tote! Learn how to make this big, roomy bag, complete with quilting designs of your choice. You'll want to take it with you everywhere!

Click here for these free project instructions!

Sashiko Inspirations
Add a splash of color to traditional sashiko embroidery! These light, delicate designs will be beautiful featured on wall hangings, purses, garments, and more cultured creations. Use them anywhere you would stitch redwork!
Orchids		Crane

Available in three sizes: 5.86"X7.65" and 4.84"X6.32" and 2.95"X3.86"		Available in three sizes: 6.73"X5.84" and 5.56"X4.82" and 3.84"X3.33"

Cherry Blossoms		Butterflies

Available in three sizes: 5.86"X8.35" and 4.83"X6.90" and 2.89"X3.87"		Available in three sizes: 6.40"X5.81" and 5.33"X4.84" and 3.73"X3.39"

Koi Fish		Dragonflies

Available in three sizes: 4.39"X9.40" and 3.19"X6.86" and 1.79"X3.85"		Available in three sizes: 6.87"X5.85" and 5.66"X4.82" and 3.85"X3.28"

Bamboo		Lotus

Available in three sizes: 5.85"X8.19" and 4.83"X6.75" and 2.75"X3.85"		Available in three sizes: 5.85"X7.11" and 4.83"X5.87" and 3.17"X3.85"

Tiger		Panda

Available in three sizes: 5.83"X7.21" and 4.82"X5.96" and 3.18"X3.89"		Available in three sizes: 5.85"X7.38" and 4.77"X6.02" and 3.05"X3.85"

Samurai		Geisha

Available in three sizes: 5.82"X7.63" and 4.84"X6.33" and 2.95"X3.85"		Available in three sizes: 5.85"X6.39" and 4.77"X5.22" and 3.52"X3.85"

A Sashiko Inspirations Value Pack

Stitch an innovative rainbow of sashiko embroidery! The Sashiko Inspirations design packs contain 12 designs, priced at only $19.97! Click on an image or link below to see the designs included in the pack, and add the pack to your basket.


All designs smaller than 6 x 10	All designs smaller than 5 x 7	All designs smaller than 4 x 4

Floral Sashiko (Applique)

Traditional sashiko consists of a repeating design pattern, all made up of one row of stitching. We gave those repeats a floral twist and added a splash of color with raw edge applique! Each of the designs below is actually three designs in one. If you like, you can stitch only the first color stop (and skip the applique) -- the floral pattern continues uninterrupted underneath. Or, skip that first color stop and stitch out the rest, and you've got the applique design by itself. And, of course, you can stitch out everything and add favorite bits of fabric to get the beautiful designs you see below! Click here for raw edge (crafty cut) applique instructions, and click here for sashiko quilting instructions.

Echinacea Sashiko Square

Available in three sizes:
7.77"X7.74" and 5.84"X5.82" and 4.81"X4.79"

Lotus Sashiko Square

Available in three sizes:
7.76"X7.75" and 5.83"X5.83" and 4.80"X4.80"

Lily Sashiko Square

Available in three sizes:
7.80"X7.77" and 5.84"X5.83" and 4.81"X4.80"

Morning Glory

Available in three sizes:
7.79"X7.76" and 5.84"X5.82" and 4.79"X4.80"

Iris Sashiko Square

Available in three sizes:
7.75"X7.74" and 5.83"X5.82" and 4.80"X4.79"

Daffodil Sashiko Square

Available in three sizes:
7.79"X7.75" and 5.86"X5.83" and 4.82"X4.80"

Orchid Sashiko Square

Available in three sizes:
7.75"X7.78" and 5.82"X5.86" and 4.79"X4.82"

Cherry Blossom Sashiko Square

Available in three sizes:
7.83"X7.75" and 5.89"X5.83" and 4.84"X4.79"

A Floral Sashiko (Applique) Value Pack

Applique fabric takes your sashiko embroidery to the next level! The Floral Sashiko Applique design packs contain 8 designs, priced at only $12.97! Click on an image or link below to see the designs included in the pack, and add the pack to your basket.


All designs smaller than 7.9 x 7.9	All designs smaller than 6 x 10	All designs smaller than 5 x 7

Sashiko squares aren't just for quilts! Feature your favorite on tote bags, pillows, and anything else that strikes your fancy. Pat in the UK used a sashiko design to great effect on this sophisticated sashiko tote bag, stitching it on a black background and combining it with some Japanese printed fabric. See this tote in the Stitchers Showcase!