A wreath, embroidered in the Japanese sashiko style, in pastel mauves and greens decorates this unique bag. By avoiding traditional colours in the wreath, the bag is relevant for Christmas and still great for the rest of the year. It could carry Christmas ’loot’, a tablet with keys and phone, an A4 sketch book and pencils, or shopping. The background to the stitching is indigo-coloured, surrounded by a very light mauve border. The border fabric is also used in the lining. The back of the bag, and the straps, are mottled mauve-blue fabric. The straps have a decorative machine embroidery along their lengths.
The Making:
The wreath was designed by Indigo Niche, and I stitched it in the sashiko style. Sashiko is a formal running stitch, with the visible stitches twice the length of the ‘gaps’. The thread colour is variable, as can be seen best in the photographs of the chain stitch border. Once I’d finished the embroidery I used my sewing machine to make the bag. This involved adding a border, ironing on padding to add strength, then choosing all the fabrics, making the straps and sewing it all together.
Care and Size:
All the fabric is cotton, and the padding is synthetic, so it will wash well. I recommend cold machine wash and dry in the shade. Iron if necessary.
The bag measures 35 cm square. The straps are both 52 x 4 cm.
