A New Year of Sashiko

Greetings for 2019 fellow sashikoists! This is just a short post to say hello before January gets away from me.  
 
In the Chinese zodiac calendar it is the Year of the Boar, and I am seeing reminders of this everywhere in daily life, on calendars, New Year cards, at the local shrines and temples. People are believed to take on the character of the animal of their birth year, which is supposed to be a special one when it comes around. Boars are said to be sincere, hardworking, have a healthy ego, and make confident and reliable leaders. With two boars in my immediate family, I can say there is some truth in that!  

​In Hideko Onazaki’s book Sashiko no Zakka (Sashiko Everyday Items, Tatsumi Publishing 2010), I found instructions for making coasters stitched with the characters for all twelve zodiac animals. (See more on this book here in one of my earlier posts,  Seasonal Inspiration)  

 Below is the character for boar. ​For those of you already familiar with sashiko techniques, who are able to decipher diagrams and know how to sew up the pieces,  why not try making a coaster?

An ideal size when completed is 13 cm by 13 cm. Enlarge the design, transfer to the cloth and stitch the sashiko through one layer. Then apply adhesive backing, fold over right side in and sew up the borders (leaving a gap to turn right side out again). Sew up the gap and you’re done. Good luck! I’d be thrilled to hear from anyone who tries it. 
 
Wishing you all the best in your adventures with sashiko this year.  
 
Happy stitching! 
 
Alison ​