People often refer to Sashiko embroidery as Japanese embroidery. And while both terms contain the word embroidery, as a native of Japan and an instructor of traditional Sashiko design, I’d like to take the time to explain the distinction between the two.
First of all, let’s take a look at Wikipedia for a definition of what embroidery is:
Embroidery It is the art or craft of decorating fabrics or other materials with a needle and thread or yarn. A characteristic of embroidery is that the basic techniques or stitches of the first works (chain stitch, buttonhole or scallop, run, satin, cross) continue to be the fundamental techniques of hand embroidery today.
sashiko embroidery it is a very old and classic way of sewing by hand using simple running stitches. The Japanese word Sashiko means “small stabs”. Sashiko was born out of the need to preserve and repair garments at a time when fabric was not available to farmers and fishermen.
Sashiko has been considered as a functional embroidery or decorative backstitching form to repair wear spots or tears with patches. Today, this continuous stitch technique is often used for purely decorative purposes in the making of quilts, purses or bags, and small pillows.
japanese embroidery (nihon shishu in Japanese) is an embroidery technique that dates back over a thousand years. It uses intricate patterns, silk and gold threads, and traditional symbolic motifs worked on fine silk fabrics. In its early days, and in contrast to the functional aspect of Sashiko embroidery, Japanese embroidery was reserved for decorating items used during religious ceremonies.
Over time, as the shishu developed its own unique Japanese qualities and characteristics, it took on a more artistic purpose. During the early stages, shishu was only available to a select group; only the highest strata of society could afford such expensive work. However, after a thousand years of abundance, this cultural heritage is reviving among hand-stitching enthusiasts and is now available to a wider audience.
