Thursday, June 8, 2017

Sashiko Flower Pillow: By Hand and Machine

This past year, I've been fascinated with combinations of machine and hand-stitching. After getting to know Susan of Easy Piecing, I dove in and bought several sashiko patterns to last probably several years (this is not a sponsored post - I just love her shop and appreciate her friendship and encouragement!). I chose this one because it had a purple background... simple as that. I love purple. And, well, the circular motion of the flowers had me intrigued.


Immediately after I finished my fall sashiko table topper, I dove into this pattern, slowly but surely. It took several months to finish; this year has been super busy quilt, event, and quilt show-wise, so I haven't had much passive time to sit and stitch (usually, I watched episodes of New Girl). Sashiko stitching is so easy and relaxing. I love to challenge myself with quilting, but it's nice to have something relatively mindless to keep my hands moving!

Once I finished the panel, I decided to turn it into a pillow to gift my mom for Mother's Day. She's always hinting that she'd *love* something handmade as a gift (and she definitely gets her share, make no mistake!). After all, I'm still head over heels for my first sashiko pillow. I had confidence this one would turn out well.


I used three different sashiko threads to hand-stitch. The blue was meant to outline the flowers and also connect them. Then, I quilted around the whole thing with my favorite purple Aurifil thread, #4225. My goal was to enhance the inner circular design and add even more texture. I'm really pleased with how it came out! I also quilted up the border, which is a print from Biology by Sarah Watson for Cloud9 Fabrics. I've been holding onto that fabric for at least a year, and I loved how it brought out the blue hand-stitching.

 

At the last minute, I embroidered a label on the back so that we'll remember when I gifted this special pillow (it says: For Mom, Love Jess, 5/2017). That purple rose fabric (by Nel Whatmore for Westminster Fabrics) is easily in my top 5 favorite purple fabrics of all time. I kept it in the family, though, so it would be in use, and I can visit. :)


A far away look. Yep, still loving those roses.


And finally, a picture of the pillow in its forever home! My mom did a beautiful job of arranging her bed, but I bet she didn't expect me to sneak in there and snap pictures.


Have a wonderful weekend! I'm spending time unpacking and settling into my new sewing space. Hopefully I'll hang up some quilts in the next week - fingers crossed!


12 comments:

  1. Beautiful finish and what a great gift, Jess! I can see that the love of purple runs deep in your family, too. <3 I hope your moving and unpacking goes smoothly and you are settled in soon.

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  2. You really did a great job on that pillow. I guess we can now see some sashiko in your modern quilts?

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  3. I love this pillow. After many years of resisting the shashiko bug bit me too. I'll have to check out that shop.

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  4. The purple is so rich, a wonderful background for the stitching. And the back is soooo lovely. Glad you are keeping it in the family.

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  5. The pillow is beautiful, and really fits in with everything your mom has on her bed :) What a great gift!

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  6. it seems your mother shares your love of purple!

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  7. Your pillow adds a nice dramatic touch to the arrangement.

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  8. What a beautiful gift! I'm sure your mother will treasure it.

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