rules and the breaking thereof

 

I sometimes wonder who writes the rules (not laws) that so many of us follow unthinkingly. And how they come to be accepted wisdom, to the degree that it is then noteworthy when they are broken. At the 'Impressionist Gardens' exhibition in Edinburgh, I was surprised to read that Pierre Bonnard apparently 'breaks all the rules' when in Blue Balcony he depicts a garden scene from a first floor balcony of a house (not the correct perspective) and then has the temerity to put a tall hedge at the end of the garden to block any further view. It amazes me that this was ever seen as rule-breaking; it is, after all, how we see life every day and always have done. How can we let ourselves be blinded by rules to the extent that they prevent us from seeing clearly?

  

I have been having these subversive thoughts while gently stitching, but it is the gentle stitching that has provoked them. I've never done any sashiko before, but last week I bought a pre-printed piece of soft, loosely woven  fabric, a horribly sharp sashiko needle, a couple of skeins of long-staple cotton sashiko thread, and started stitching. I'd looked up a few directions beforehand and was reassured by the fact that there is nothing too rule-like about sashiko (it's not imperative that you use any of the authentic Japanese stuff, your stitch length/technique can suit your style and motion, a special thimble is optional). I also soon discovered that sashiko is the most wonderfully junior school-level stitching imaginable. 

I remember when I was seven or eight and desperate to get sewing. The first things we were given were thick needles and soft fabric, and as beginners we were told to use the thread double and to tie a knot in the end to anchor it. Of course, it was made very clear that when we were doing 'proper' needlework (about four years hence) we would graduate to a single, fine thread and there would be no question of knots anywhere in our work. The thing was, though, that I truly enjoyed working with thick threads, simple stitches and useful knots, and struggled to understand why finer, thinner, knotless work was seen as inherently superior.

 

So it is utterly liberating to find out that sashiko relies on double threads, knots, and super-simple, happy running stitch on clever line patterns for its beautiful effects. It is so easy and rewarding to follow the dotted lines, all the while feeling thrilled that you are breaking every abitrary rule your needlework teacher ever imposed. I made this piece in three nights, and was so absorbed and unworried about getting it 'wrong' that I was surprised when I saw I'd finished it. How is it, I wondered, that for centuries in Japan it's been fine to make bold, textural, stitches with thick, double thread and lots of knots on the back, and all the while in the West this very simplicity and practicality has been ruled out by those who know better?

Good job I now have the reverse kit to work on - indigo fabric with off-white thread - so that I can carry on wondering and rebelling.

 [Sashiko supplies from The Cotton Patch. Pattern is Olympus Shippo Tsunagi, and my thread and needle are also the Olympus brand. I didn't use a special thimble. Best source of information is Susan Briscoe.]

Comments

[Victoria]

Fascinating. You have inspired and introduced me to yet another skill. Wish there were more hours in the day. Thank you for such a fab blog. x

[Victoria]

Fascinating. You have now inspired me and introduced me to yet another skill. Wish there were more hours in the day. Thank you for such a fab blog. x

[m]

Followed your link and was fascinated to see that the designs are by Hokusai.
But big needles and a knot, this could be my moment to start sewing!

[Catherine Daniel]

As is often the case in life and art .... the simplest techniques are the most effective, and this is quite lovely.

[Lisa G.]

Very interesting.

[Katie]

You've inspired me to dig out the sashiko kit I got for Christmas (last year!) and get started. Sounds like a great holiday de-stressor - thanks!

[florrie]

Sashiko looks like such a relaxing pastime...

[Leila]

So lovely. I've wanted to try some sashiko and this post makes me want to do it even more. Maybe I'll put down my knitting for 5 minutes and give it a go!

[charlotte mayhew]

So true about how the "right" way to do it is not terribly practical. Perhaps this stems from the people doing the high-end stitching not having to worry about the details of regular life?

By the way, I've been reading your blog for years and love it!

[maggie]

Very interesting, and such lovely precise and neat stitching. I remember sewing at school as well... thick fabric and thread to make placemats, edged with cross stitch. Then an apron with thinner material and threads. I remember being inordinately proud of my tiny, neat stitches... my handwriting was, and is, still small and neat, and my handstitching likewise. I love handstitching, there is something almost meditative about the act of sewing something by hand, like my latest patchwork cushions... can be seen on my blog at mrsrunofthemills.blogspot.com

[Helen in Switzerland]

I think we must all be brave enough to see that an awful lot of 'rules' are a load of tosh! (Just as long as we don't hurt other people, who cares!) I'm all in favour of doing things outside the box!

[Vicki in Michigan]

I got an electronic newsletter from a prominent sewing magazine yesterday.

One of the articles was about how embarassing and disappointing it was to look inside a garment and see that the fastenings were not sewn into the garment in an elaborate and decorative way (with instructions on how to do it "properly".....).

Goodness gracious.

Some people seriously need to get a life.............

"Rules" for sewing in hooks and eyes????? Please.

I mean. If someone wants to use fancy thread and fancy stitches, more power to her. To say "you might think it's fun to do it this way" would be great, but turning it into something for people to feel bad about not doing? Really?

To make a "rule" out of it???????????? No. Seriously, no.

Sheesh.

[Josefina]

I think your point is very interesting. I see a certain amount of irony in the feeling that one is breaking rules whilst following a dotted line that is preprinted, a line that, if ignored, presumably would show in the finished work, thus destroying it. Of course, I am not saying that your feeling of freedom is unwarranted. I suppose what I was thinking was that if a child was taught only sashiko, perhaps he or she would feel equally bound by rules, and might find Western-style embroidery liberating. Perhaps the freedom is in voluntarily and temporarily exchanging our rules for someone else's?

I, too, enjoy a nice, sturdy knot. I have been meaning to attempt sashiko.

[MissHeliotrope]

O dear, you've actually tempted me to look this up. Sewing. Me. I get blood stains on everything when I am allowed sharp things.

And really, neat sewing inside garments? Mostly the (other)person seeing inside your nice frock isn't a sewing sort of chap, anyway, surely...

[frances]

Iknow that Purl (near where I work in NYC's SOHO) is very big on sashiko. It does appeal to me, and if I were ever to come to the end of my long line of projects (crochet, knitting, embroidery, needlepoint, and then there's drawing and painting in the wings) I will definitely want to explore the gentle pace of sashiko.

Best wishes.

[mijk]

Oh this is so lovely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cornelle]

It seems to me that one person believes very firmly in a way to do something / live. Another person comes along and feels the same. Soon you have many people who agree and a personal truth/rule becomes a universal truth/rule, exceptions or no. Too limiting, I say. But I do need those guiding lines from time to time :-)

[suesue]

I think the internet and the fabulous blogs I read have freed me in so many ways. NO rules, just art!!

[Christy]

Many years ago I used the Folkwear pattern of a Japanese kimono to make a cotton indigo dyed house style coat for a friend's wedding present.

The dyeing technique is called Shibori and the running stitch is called Sashiko.

It truly was a labour of love. I did enjoy making it and felt it was a worthy gift for a friend who studied at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, I knew she would truly appreciate it.

So I know what you mean about following those lines with running stitch.

Christy
Lil Bit Brit

[carole]

I love this. I wonder if there are knots in the middle as well, it seems as though there must be. I'm thinking of having a go!