Sashiko Set: Hitomezashi with a wood ruler for grid lines

This template is produced by Byrk.no in Norwegian, certified wood.

The kit also includes sashiko needles, a leather palm thimble, water-soluble fabric pencil and marker, 100m sashiko thread, and instructions. Everything you need to get started with hitomesashi-inspired repairs!

Each groove in the template is 1 cm apart, but there are holes midway between them so you can draw lines 1 cm apart, then slide the template 0.5 cm to the side, check that the lines you drew are in the holes, and then draw new lines. Rotate the template 90 degrees and repeat, and you will have a 0.5 cm grid.

This is practical for many clothing repairs, but especially for Hitomezashi ("one-stitch" sashiko) where patterns are built up with a network of stitches constructed around various types of grids. Therefore, we also send a small hitomezashi instruction with all templates.

It is also practical just for simple rows of running stitch/basting stitch on patching or similar. Of course, you can also create larger or smaller grids than 0.5 cm if you wish by adjusting the number of lines you draw.

We have tested the template with various marking tools for textiles, so it works with both pencils and markers.

If what you are marking the fabric with is quite narrow, you can choose one side in each groove and make the lines against one side, and then just make sure that when you shift the template, the lines are not exactly in the middle of the holes, but slightly to the side, and then you make new lines against the same edge as before. With pencils, it is important that you sharpen it often to reach the fabric you are drawing on.