Sustainable Sashiko Mending Workshop

Thu Jun 08 2023 at 06:30 pm to 08:30 pm

Patagonia | San Francisco

SCRAP-SF
Publisher/HostSCRAP-SF
Sustainable Sashiko Mending Workshop
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Learn the basics of Sashiko, while also learning how to mend your clothes in a beautiful way.
About this Event

In this workshop you will learn how to mend your clothes while also learning the basics of Sashiko. Sashiko is so much more than a stitching method or a sustainability practice. With a little care and intention, once worn out objects can transform into something beautiful and meaningful - all while sharing your story. Bring your own cotton or denim garment to mend or practice on our provided samples!


You Will Learn How To:

Work with a sashiko needle and thread

Load the needle with fabric by using the unshin stitching method

Create Sashiko patterns

Mend your clothes

Repurpose fabric scraps into something useful & beautiful


A Brief History of Sashiko

My mother used to often say, “Necessity is the mother of invention” and that is what comes to mind when I think of Sashiko’s humble origins. Sashiko was born out of necessity within the poor and working class communities of Japan to keep warm and make clothes last well beyond their initial life. The thick, cotton thread used for Sashiko helped to create a stronger, more practical garment that could be passed down for generations. While the documented origins of Sashiko date back to the Edo period (1603-1867) in Japan, there is evidence of identical patterns as early as the 6th century found in the attire of ancient Buddhist monks. It wasn’t until many years later that people began to also use the sashiko method as a means of expression by stitching more decorative and symbolic patterns onto their textiles.


What is Sashiko?

Sashiko is a form of folk art that translates to “little stabs”, which works well in describing the distinctive running stitch it relies on known in Japan as unshin. This stitch is made by loading the fabric in a back-and-forth motion onto the needle for several stitches at once before pulling it through and smoothing it out. This technique maximizes the length of your needle and results in an evenly-spaced, straight line of stitches.


Focus on the process, not the outcome.

Sashiko embraces the idea of the Japanese term, Wabi Sabi, that sees the beauty in the imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. Over time you will gain a rhythm that will create better results, but in order to achieve that flow state, you must first let go. This form of stitching can become a meditative state, allowing your mind to wander and bring happiness with each stitch. Like my mentor, Youngmin Lee says “Your stitches tell a story.”


About the Artist

Mariah was born and raised in Maine, where she first discovered her love of textiles. Starting at a young age, she collected scraps of fabric from hand-me-down clothing, antique linens, and her mother’s tattered scarf that lay hidden in a box of memories. While collecting these scraps, she didn’t have a plan, she just couldn’t bear to get rid of them. Each piece had its own sentiment and a story she knew she would one day share. A new life for these scraps came to fruition when she discovered a unique form of Korean textile art known as Bojagi. Mariah immediately fell in love with the symbolism inherent to the practice and the peace of mind each stitch brought her. It also resonated with her as a means of connecting to her Korean heritage and practicing sustainability.

She has since expanded her bojagi practice by also incorporating experiments with fabric manipulation, Sashiko, and sculpture. Mariah is currently participating in an apprenticeship with Artist Youngmin Lee and the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA). Mariah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from SCAD. She utilizes her degree to create an elevated visual experience for her workshops and community events.

Find Mariah at:


About SCRAP

We at SCRAP breathe new life into old arts & crafts supplies and reduce waste by diverting over 200 tons of materials heading to landfill every year. To learn more about SCRAP and our mission to make art materials & education more accessible to all, please visit our website at www.scrap-sf.org


Event Photos
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Patagonia, 770 North Point Street, San Francisco, United States

Tickets

USD 0.00 to USD 20.00

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