How to work the sashiko running stitch
Load several stitches on the needle, then push through with a thimble.
Step by step
- Cut 50 to 60 cm of thread and use it single, not doubled.
- Rock the needle through the fabric along the line, gathering three or four stitches on it.
- Push the needle through with the thimble, then draw the thread after.
- Keep every stitch the same length, with gaps about half a stitch.
- Don't pull tight: smooth the fabric along the line so it stays flat.
Pinny's tip
Consistency matters far more than the exact stitch size.
Consistency matters far more than the exact stitch size.
Watch
LEARN HOW TO USE SASHIKO RUNNING STITCH | REPAIR or DIY your clothes! SASHIKO FOR BEGINNER'S (3:22)
By Frock & Mol Sews and Grows · Open on YouTube
Chosen from its title and channel: a 3-minute video from Frock & Mol Sews and Grows on the same topic as this guide. Embedded from YouTube with credit; we don't host it. It only loads when you press play.
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Sources
All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.