Sashiko tutorial 02: Asa-No-Ha

Asa-No-Ha is a design based on a grid of squares with vertical and oblique lines. The oblique lines are stitched one square down two squares across and the vertical lines are stitched two squares across.

Materials
Fabric: Cotton or semi cotton blue fabric. In sashiko, the most common fabric is indigo cotton cloth while other cloths, such as silk, semi synthetic cotton, denim, linen and wool can be also used.
Thread: Cotton white thread, DMC No 20 or No 25 (blanc).
Needles: Sashiko needles or any other long embroidery needle with a small head.
Thimble.
Scissors.
Ruler: It is better to use a quilter's ruler. This type of ruler has a grid, so its much more easy to draw parallel lines.
Tailor's chalk, French chalk or any colored pencil (e.g. yellow)

Sashiko tutorial 01: Dan-Tsunagi (pattern of connected steps)

Dan-Tsunagi: It is an easy, square based pattern, suitable for beginners with right angled corners.

Sashiko tutorial 00: Materials & tools

Materials: Sashiko uses light colored thread over darker shades of plain-weave cotton fabric. Traditionally, the thread is white cotton and the fabric is dyed blue with indigo.

Handling the thread
1. Slide the paper band off.