Reversible Japanese Knot Bag, and Kantha Demonstration

1st evening will be a demonstration of simple Sashiko and Kantha, cutting out patterns for your choice of knot bag. There will be time to practice on some plain fabric transferring a design and stitching simple and kantha stitches. A handout will be given on the night to cover cutting out the bags and how to construct them.

In between meetings one and two, you can choose your desired fabrics, alter the pattern if you wish to make it longer, wider or extend the main strap. Pockets can be added for mobile phones etcetera. Cut out all the pieces and start on your Sashiko designs. (You can construct your bag from the handout.)

On the 2nd Evening we will cover constructing the bag.

There are two versions of the Japanese Knot bag, I will bring patterns for you to trace around or cut out from lining paper. Feel free to cut patterns for both bags

Version 1 has a curved bottom and Version 2 has a circle bottom, which allows it to sit flat.

Requirements for the 1st session

Pen, pencil, ruler and paper cutting . Grease proof paper or lining paper for your own patterns. There will be some at group

Some practice plain fabrics with contrasting thread. (You can buy sashiko needles and thread from Euro Japan online. Alternatively a chenille needle and thin perle cotton works well, with an eye large enough to accommodate the thread

Thimble and scissors

Fabric (Japanese indigo is traditional, but you can use any dark cotton with a loose weave)

Sashiko thread, white is traditional

For Kantha, anything goes; bright fabrics and pretty colour threads work the best

Marking tools, such as chalk liner, chalk tracing paper, air erasable marker or Hera marker. All seams are ¼” and are included in the patterns