In this 3,5-hour session, you will stitch together with textile artist Selina Ben to explore the beauty of Japanese embroidery technique Sashiko and its application on denim mending. You’ll be working with your hands and simple tools. The class is beginner friendly, so you don’t need any hand stitching or embroidery experience to join. At the end of the class, you will gain the fundamental skills to mend your beloved pair of jeans to make it last longer and let it become your artistic expression.
sunday 6 october
2 – 5:30 pm
price € 75
materials will be provided and no experience is necessary
workshop will be in English
- an introduction to the history of Sashiko in Japan.
- a presentation of vintage Japanese textile examples and Selina’s Sashiko mending work.
- an explanation on mending materials, tools, and how to best use them to repair damages like holes and weak areas on your jeans, in an artist way.
- a demonstration + stitch along session on drawing, stitching and customizing 4 traditional Hitomezashi Sashiko patterns (see photos hereunder). You’ll also receive an instruction booklet with these patterns.
- a 0.5-hour free consulting session on various mending solution at the end of the workshop.
- a detailed PDF instruction with material list and recommended books via email after the class.
- coffee, tea and snacks
You don’t need to prepare any materials or tools for yourself as they will be provided at the workshop. Please do bring a pair of jeans or other denim item, preferably with damages like holes and/or weak areas. It’s also fine if you don’t bring jeans, we will provide scrap denim fabrics for you to practice at the workshop.
A Sashiko starter kit costs 10 euro and can be purchased separately during the workshop. The kit includes 2 Sashiko needles, 1 Japanese leather thimble and 2 fabric markers. You can take free Sashiko threads which are enough to finish your project at home.
Selina Ben is a textile artist and mender based in Amsterdam with a professional background in textile product development. She is inspired by historical textiles around the world and works with pre-used fabrics. Selina believes stitching by hand is the best form of meditation. With her practice, she hopes to preserve disappearing techniques, honor unknown makers and their cultural heritage. Selina on instagram
