Welcome to Wattssashiko
Hi, I'm Alison.
Japan is my second home. I lived there for thirty-five years until moving back to my home country of Australia. Decades ago, when I first came across sashiko, I instantly fell in love with it — the simplicity of it and beauty of its patterns. That was in pre-internet days (gosh that makes me feel old!) when there was very little information available in either English or Japanese. Nowadays, of course, the internet overflows with all sorts of information and books (some of dubious origin I must say), as its popularity grew in both Japan and overseas. And over the decades, I have observed new trends and styles emerge. I see these reflected in the collection of Japanese language publications I have amassed. A literary translator by trade, I have also translated three into English.
For a long time I was self-taught, doing sashiko on my own until fate sent me a teacher. Then I had the joy of studying under an expert, and being part of a group. We stitched together at monthly gatherings, exhibited, did collaborative projects, and helped each other in many ways. I miss the wisdom and companionship of those ladies so much!
Now that I am living back in Australia, I remember what they taught me and my passion for sashiko is undimmed. My mission is to share it with anyone who wants to learn, teaching not only method, but also about sashiko's unique history. More than simply a pretty, decorative craft, it has a unique history, and I believe that knowing more about this will impart greater appreciation for sashiko and the Japanese culture that gave birth to it.
I am excited about this new stage of my journey with sashiko, and am looking forward to meeting many new people along the way!
Japan is my second home. I lived there for thirty-five years until moving back to my home country of Australia. Decades ago, when I first came across sashiko, I instantly fell in love with it — the simplicity of it and beauty of its patterns. That was in pre-internet days (gosh that makes me feel old!) when there was very little information available in either English or Japanese. Nowadays, of course, the internet overflows with all sorts of information and books (some of dubious origin I must say), as its popularity grew in both Japan and overseas. And over the decades, I have observed new trends and styles emerge. I see these reflected in the collection of Japanese language publications I have amassed. A literary translator by trade, I have also translated three into English.
For a long time I was self-taught, doing sashiko on my own until fate sent me a teacher. Then I had the joy of studying under an expert, and being part of a group. We stitched together at monthly gatherings, exhibited, did collaborative projects, and helped each other in many ways. I miss the wisdom and companionship of those ladies so much!
Now that I am living back in Australia, I remember what they taught me and my passion for sashiko is undimmed. My mission is to share it with anyone who wants to learn, teaching not only method, but also about sashiko's unique history. More than simply a pretty, decorative craft, it has a unique history, and I believe that knowing more about this will impart greater appreciation for sashiko and the Japanese culture that gave birth to it.
I am excited about this new stage of my journey with sashiko, and am looking forward to meeting many new people along the way!
