Sashiko: a beginner's guide

Traditional Japanese stitching: one even running stitch, in patterns, usually white on indigo.
- Sashiko is all running stitch along marked lines; the beauty is in evenness.
- Hitomezashi is grid-based: stitch length is set by the grid, so it's easiest for beginners.
- Moyozashi uses longer pattern lines; the stitches on the front are often longer than those on the back.
- Sashiko is used both to decorate and to strengthen cloth, which makes it great for mending.
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Basics of Sashiko 1 | Tools, Materials and Alternatives for Beginners (3:46)
By Xiaoxiao Yarn · Open on YouTube
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Sources
All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.