Mending with Sashiko
Mending with Sashiko: The Japanese Art of Visible Repair
Kerstin Numuller and Tako Momiyama
Batsford
Introduction
If for practicality or presence, the gentle stitching together that is termed as Sashiko is known for is history, its culture depth and its story, as well as the fabric it is founded within. This title will lead you through the previous, with adaptable projects and leave you with more than anything, a deeper appreciation of a place, the people who it is inspired by, the founders and also give you room for personal growth.
What is Sashiko
Sashiko is a hand sewing method, known for its visible healing. In basic terms, it is translated to English as ‘Little Stabs’, often used as a mending, repair method for garments in history. You will learn in this book about the history, so I will not spoil it for you. But it can also be decorative. The stitches are set to be obvious. They do not hide their career in life - in fact they flaunt it. We are stitches, we matter because without us your i.e. clothing would be in a bad state - we make the broken fixed - hurrah!
About the writers
I really liked this combination. In the introduction we learn about the authors who are working artists in their own right. Kerstin with her love of this method and the man itself who has lived it, experienced it - who could write better?
The book itself
Mending matters. Thematically, this is a key strain throughout. Okay, we might live in a society where we “think'“ we have it all. We can throw away, rebut - why bother to mind a hole when we can just buy a replacement? Although this method stemmed from humble roots, it has a place in our now. Why?
Some of us, at some time in our lives will need to mend not just a sock, but the corners or fabric of our minds. How can a stitch save us? I dare you to try a quiet afternoon, allowing time for the stitches to sit in your hands, slowly seeing something form or reform before your very eyes - and it might not bring world peace, but it might just bring you a nighttime of sanity. It can be a distraction from the noise surrounding us - something we can control when all seems too much. Have I sold it to you yet?
The book itself, has yes the history and culture notes as well as personality from its duo authorship. But it also has projects you can relate to. Bags and socks to darn with a flare of stitch and many others.
We gain real life insight into ‘Momi’ and where he works and lives out this method - even evidence of garments repaired time and time again over decades….
Sashiko can be looked at by the untrained eye as a stitch, all the same. That would be like saying that all humans look the same, they are all human. Sashiko has many variants - you just need to be keen enough to find them and know them.
Does mending really matter?
Yes, it does. But it is one of these things you must live in, to know. So care to try it today? This really is about more than a decorative stitch - it can be your way of life - literally.
