SASHIKO 2 SPRING SALE
Okan Arts is offering the Sashiko 2 machine for a special Spring price! Each machine is bundled with a large extension table (a $129 value) and shipped FREE to your home.
If you’re interested in this special deal (that is too low to be published online), please email Patricia at patricia@okanarts.com
Okan Arts is an authorized seller of the Sashiko 2. The Sashiko 2 is made in Japan by Baby Lock.
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By Victoria Stone
LONG BEACH CA When decorating this season I realized that my mantel was calling out for stockings. After a fruitless online search for something I liked, I decided to dive into the bin of kimono wool scraps I’ve been hoarding.
This was a fairly simple project and I am thrilled with the outcome — although now I want to make stockings for everyone in the family!
I decided on a patchwork pattern with 2.5” squares of kimono wool. After digging through the scraps bin, I found a half a yard or so of seven fabrics that I thought worked well together. I cut them into 3” by 6” strips.
I sewed the strips together in twos, randomizing the patterns, with ¼" seams and pressed the seams open.
After I had a good assortment, I cut across these new strips at the 3" mark — perpendicular to the seam.
Then it was time to lay out the pattern. I decided the stocking should be about 20” tall and 18” wide. This meant the stocking would be nine squares tall and eight squares wide.
I moved my strips around quite a bit to get a good array of colors and patterns.
First I stitched the wool pieces together into long horizontal strips. Then I stitched the long strips together from top to bottom, pressing the seams open.
I made a stocking pattern out of heavy paper, gridding it with 2.5” squares.
After the “fabric” for the stocking top was all assembled, I was ready to stitch.
I layered the pieced wool on top of some batting and cranberry-colored cotton. I quickly tailor basted the stocking sandwich by hand, then I moved to the Sashiko 2 sewing machine.
(The Sashiko 2, made in Japan, is the only sewing machine that makes a dashed stitch.)
I stitched a simple diamond pattern from corner to corner with white Aurifil 12wt cotton thread. I wanted this stocking to feel homespun and classic with the Big Stitch look.
My Sashiko 2 stitching went off the ends of the stocking sandwich. As the stocking was going to be sewn together along the edges, there was no need to tie off the thread ends.
After stitching the front, I couldn’t resist using the Sashiko 2 to stitch the back of the stocking.
I snagged two pieces of a soft kimono wool; pattern matched the plaid; made a sandwich of kimono wool, batting and cranberry-colored cotton; tailor basted the sandwich by hand; and did a straight up-and-down channel stitch using the Sashiko 2’s quilting guide to space my lines.
Then it was the moment of truth. I placed my pattern on the sandwiched and stitched pieces, and decided that I wouldn’t cut off the overhanging three quarters of a square on top.
More room for presents, right?
So far, so good. The front of the stocking has a classic holiday style, and the back has a surprisingly mid-century modern feel to it.
I placed right sides together and sewed a ¼” seam, clipping the curves on the toe and heel. Then it was just a matter of turning the project right side out and giving it a good press!
The final part was the all-important cuff. I cut two long rectangles — 4” by 19.5” — one from a basic evergreen cotton and one from some white plush fleece I had in my stash.
I stitched one of the long edges of the green cotton and fleece together with a ¼” seam and pressed the seam open.
I hunted around for something to use as a hanging loop and found some braided cotton tape.
I cut a 5” piece of the tape, folded it into a loop, and pinned it to the right side of the fleece side of the cuff, about a ½” down from the edge. I sewed the right sides of the cuff together, along the short ends.
A quick turn and press, and the cuff was ready to go!
To attach the cuff, I placed it right side out, inside the finished stocking. The fleece of the cuff was against the lining of the stocking.
I lined up the seam of the cuff to the back seam of the stocking, above the heel. Then I pinned the edges into place.
I stitched the cuff to the stocking with a ¼” seam. Just to be safe, I stitched the seam a second time.
It was just time to flip out the cuff and give it a press!
I used some Aurifil 12wt cotton thread to tack the bottom of the cuff to the stocking, just under the hanging loop. I wanted to be sure it can take the weight of whatever the holiday brings!
And that’s it! A perfect addition to my mantel decorating, and double-sided too!
I even made a little stocking for Peach, although she seems uninterested in it. Maybe her holiday gift this year will be to fill it with catnip?
Happy holidays and happy sewing!
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead quilting & textile tours to Japan.
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