There are 4 parts to this tutorial. In an effort to make it easier to find these parts I'm putting the links for all 4 here, plus a link for if you are starting stitching with a pre-printed (wash out) Sashiko design.
This is part 1
The first thing you need to do is to transfer a Sashiko design to a fabric.
Gather your supplies. For Sashiko this is a pretty short list. Sashiko needle and Sashiko thread, a Sashiko design, some cotton or cotton/linen fabric, and for transferring the design, some featherweight fusible non woven white interfacing and a permanent ink fine tip pen. You can find all of this on this website. 
Before you do anything else, wash, dry and press your fabric in the same way you intend to after the project is finished and in use. (If you are stitching on pre-printed fabric DO NOT wash it- your design will disappear!)
While you are waiting for your fabric to dry, you can transfer the design. You will need the Sashiko design, a fine tip pen, preferably one that is permanent so it doesn't rub off on your thread as you stitch, a straight edge (ruler, quilting square...) and some tape. Oh, and the white featherweight fusible interfacing!
2. lay your interfacing over it with the glue side (the rough side) down and tape that to the table also
3. using the straight edge, trace the lines of the design onto the interfacing.
While you are waiting for your fabric to dry, you can transfer the design. You will need the Sashiko design, a fine tip pen, preferably one that is permanent so it doesn't rub off on your thread as you stitch, a straight edge (ruler, quilting square...) and some tape. Oh, and the white featherweight fusible interfacing!
We are going to trace the design onto the interfacing and then fuse the interfacing to the back of the Sashiko fabric.
Here are the steps to follow:
Important Note: the interfacing I used in these photos happened to have yellow grid lines on it- they have nothing to do with transferring the design so please ignore them!)
1. tape the corners of the Sashiko dragonfly design to your worktable
4. trace the dragonfly freehand
5. lay your (now washed and dried) fabric on your ironing board wrong side up, if it has one.
6. un-tape the corners of the interfacing and lay it over your fabric. Using your iron at a medium heat steam setting, fuse the interfacing to the fabric. Begin in the centre of the design and work toward the outside by lifting and setting your iron, rather than sliding it. This will keep the interfacing and your design from pulling out of shape! Now your project is ready to start stitching
5. lay your (now washed and dried) fabric on your ironing board wrong side up, if it has one.
6. un-tape the corners of the interfacing and lay it over your fabric. Using your iron at a medium heat steam setting, fuse the interfacing to the fabric. Begin in the centre of the design and work toward the outside by lifting and setting your iron, rather than sliding it. This will keep the interfacing and your design from pulling out of shape! Now your project is ready to start stitching
- how to start your stitching without knotting your thread,
- how to manage your stitch length,
- and how to decide what that length should be.
- Also how to hold your fabric, load stitches on the needle and turn a sharp corner.
Scroll back to the top for the links to continue this tutorial
Talk to you soon,
Susan
Links