Sashiko Sampler border auditions

The sashiko sampler all tacked up on the wall... ready to audition borders... 

The pieced blocks were taken from Susan Briscoe's Japanese Quilt Blocks to Mix and Match, as were all but four of the sashiko designs.  I loved making this quilt.  I used several pieces of vintage katazome indigo in it.  And "mixing and matching" designs was indeed a lot of fun. 

So - borders.    Probably not this stripe....

Probably not this gorgeous brilliant blue indigo...

I do like how using the same dark indigo used throughout will make the blocks "float":

With that decided.... all that's left is to measure, cut, measure and cut... and sew on these borders... but I can think of 100 ways to productively procrastinate;)... 

More sashiko

Tachibana - orange blossom 

Oh how I enjoy stitching sashiko.... sitting by the fire, while watching TV... in dentist waiting rooms... at book group...

This way I'm slowly working on my sashiko sampler...

I wish the beautiful indigo showed better in these photos.  Perhaps it's time to upgrade to a "real" camera?  I'm using my old iphone - I love the convenience.

Mitsu Ichou three gingko leaves 

 Some of these patterns are from Susan Briscoe's book Japanese Quilt Blocks to Mix and Match.  Others I got from my sashiko teacher in Tokyo.

Here is one of my favorites, Tortoiseshell (looks like flowery hexies to me!). You can see where I mistakenly extended the pattern when I was tracing it.  Those lines will wash right out.  I may redo the block - the stitches aren't as uniform as I'd like.  But then again..... when it is pieced into a whole quilt... it won't really matter... and I'm not a perfectionist.

Tsu no kikko - tortoise shell

 I will alternate these blocks with pieced blocks like this:

Little by little.... I love working with this indigo!

Sashiko sampler beginnings...

As much as I love my sewing machine(s), these days I really enjoy the convenience and satisfaction of handwork - so relaxing and satisfying.   

Mitsu ume (three plum blossoms)

One day last week I found myself spending hours and hours in an airport...

Tomoe ume (comma-style plum blossom)

... glad that I had prepared some Sashiko handwork!

tsuki ni kumo (moon) 

These designs are from Susan Briscoe's excellent book Japanese Quilt Blocks to Mix and Match.

yukimochi sasa (bamboo with snowflake)

Plum and Bamboo are two of the "three friends of winter" - strong and robust like Pine.

I stitched these sashiko designs on 10" squares of indigo, which I will trim down to make 9" finished quilt squares eventually... perhaps for a sampler.

What about you?  Which do you prefer this winter (or summer!) - handwork or machine work?