I always seem to be shopping for jeans. I can't seem to keep a pair for more than a year. I'm hard on my jeans. Inevitably, they rip, get worn, and end up covered in paint. Wandering through Pinterest one night, I stumbled into posts sharing Sashiko and Japanes Boro repairs to jeans.
What is Sashiko?
Sashiko (刺し子?, literally "little stabs") is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching (or functional embroidery) from Japan. Traditionally used to reinforce points of wear, or to repair worn places or tears with patches, this running stitch technique is often used for purely decorative purposes in quilting and embroidery. The white cotton thread on the traditional indigo blue cloth gives sashiko its distinctive appearance, though decorative items sometimes use red thread.[1] (source: Wikipedia)
Here are a few examples of Sashiko:
What is Japanese Boro?
Literally translated as rags or scraps of cloth, the term boro is also used to describe clothes and household items which have been patched-up and repaired many times. (source: FurugiStar)
Here are a few pictures of Japanese Boro:
I had stumbled across this kind of stitching when I used to a lot of quilting. There's a woman named Jude Hill, whom I've long admired. Her blog is called "Spirit Cloth" and many years ago I created some small pieces inspired by her approach to stitching. I'll see if I can dig them up for a future blog post. :)
Combine those thoughts with the fact that patchwork denim seems to be all the rage among the fashionable people and the fact that Fourth of July is coming at us, and what you get is an awesome idea! I came up with a super cool way to show off my red white and blue patriotism while saving my beloved jeans from the garbage heap. Take a peek:
In some places I patched the jeans by placing the fabric underneath the hole and adding stitching, as above.
In other places I patched the jeans by placing the fabric over the hole and adding stitching, as below:
For my Fourth of July theme, I was sure to add some stars to my stitching…
And a red stripe too!
I love my "new" jeans!
This was a fairly easy project. Took my an evening to repair all the holes, stitching by hand. I used fabric scraps I had and some white embroidery floss I had sitting around. There is actual Sashiko Thread and there are Sashiko Needles, but I just used what I had on hand. That's the theory behind Boro: to use what you have on hand.
I'd say that this project is more Japanese Boro than beautiful Sashiko. Whatever it is, I love it. I hope you'll consider giving your old jeans a Patriotic makeover!
Thanks for stopping by!
Brilliant! Your creativity always astounds me!
Brilliant! Your creativity always astounds me!
Brilliant! Your creativity always astounds me!
Brilliant! Your creativity always astounds me!
Brilliant! Your creativity always astounds me!
Brilliant! Your creativity always astounds me!
Love it! I am going to use it on all my favorite but old jeans that I can no longer wear cuz of rips in them! yayyyyyy!!!
Love it! I am going to use it on all my favorite but old jeans that I can no longer wear cuz of rips in them! yayyyyyy!!!
Love it! I am going to use it on all my favorite but old jeans that I can no longer wear cuz of rips in them! yayyyyyy!!!
Love it! I am going to use it on all my favorite but old jeans that I can no longer wear cuz of rips in them! yayyyyyy!!!
Love it! I am going to use it on all my favorite but old jeans that I can no longer wear cuz of rips in them! yayyyyyy!!!
Love it! I am going to use it on all my favorite but old jeans that I can no longer wear cuz of rips in them! yayyyyyy!!!
Ah-hah! You just saved a pair of my jeans from hitting the scrap heap. Actually, I was going to tear them up and stitch bits into my art journal but this looks like fun and I’ll get to wear them when I’m in my art cave slinging paint in all directions!
Ah-hah! You just saved a pair of my jeans from hitting the scrap heap. Actually, I was going to tear them up and stitch bits into my art journal but this looks like fun and I’ll get to wear them when I’m in my art cave slinging paint in all directions!
Ah-hah! You just saved a pair of my jeans from hitting the scrap heap. Actually, I was going to tear them up and stitch bits into my art journal but this looks like fun and I’ll get to wear them when I’m in my art cave slinging paint in all directions!
Ah-hah! You just saved a pair of my jeans from hitting the scrap heap. Actually, I was going to tear them up and stitch bits into my art journal but this looks like fun and I’ll get to wear them when I’m in my art cave slinging paint in all directions!
Ah-hah! You just saved a pair of my jeans from hitting the scrap heap. Actually, I was going to tear them up and stitch bits into my art journal but this looks like fun and I’ll get to wear them when I’m in my art cave slinging paint in all directions!
Ah-hah! You just saved a pair of my jeans from hitting the scrap heap. Actually, I was going to tear them up and stitch bits into my art journal but this looks like fun and I’ll get to wear them when I’m in my art cave slinging paint in all directions!
Yes!! I love an old patched pair of jeans! This is a great inspiration for me, I patch, but the stitching is great for adding character and strength. Thanx for the great idea.
Yes!! I love an old patched pair of jeans! This is a great inspiration for me, I patch, but the stitching is great for adding character and strength. Thanx for the great idea.
Yes!! I love an old patched pair of jeans! This is a great inspiration for me, I patch, but the stitching is great for adding character and strength. Thanx for the great idea.
Yes!! I love an old patched pair of jeans! This is a great inspiration for me, I patch, but the stitching is great for adding character and strength. Thanx for the great idea.
Yes!! I love an old patched pair of jeans! This is a great inspiration for me, I patch, but the stitching is great for adding character and strength. Thanx for the great idea.
Yes!! I love an old patched pair of jeans! This is a great inspiration for me, I patch, but the stitching is great for adding character and strength. Thanx for the great idea.
If I could find a pair of jeans that fit, I’d do this. I do have one pair of new heavy denim jeans I keep up with a belt – maybe one day I’ll use this technique since I love it. Thanks for sharing it!
If I could find a pair of jeans that fit, I’d do this. I do have one pair of new heavy denim jeans I keep up with a belt – maybe one day I’ll use this technique since I love it. Thanks for sharing it!
If I could find a pair of jeans that fit, I’d do this. I do have one pair of new heavy denim jeans I keep up with a belt – maybe one day I’ll use this technique since I love it. Thanks for sharing it!
If I could find a pair of jeans that fit, I’d do this. I do have one pair of new heavy denim jeans I keep up with a belt – maybe one day I’ll use this technique since I love it. Thanks for sharing it!
If I could find a pair of jeans that fit, I’d do this. I do have one pair of new heavy denim jeans I keep up with a belt – maybe one day I’ll use this technique since I love it. Thanks for sharing it!
If I could find a pair of jeans that fit, I’d do this. I do have one pair of new heavy denim jeans I keep up with a belt – maybe one day I’ll use this technique since I love it. Thanks for sharing it!
I wish I could do this with my favorite pair of business casual slacks that I wear to work, but I don’t know if my boss would understand the technique! The patch and thread would have to be extremely well blended. I do have a pair of shorts that will be my candidate.
Julie you never cease to amaze me as you find time to do so many different and creative projects. Which of course makes your blog so, so interesting!
I wish I could do this with my favorite pair of business casual slacks that I wear to work, but I don’t know if my boss would understand the technique! The patch and thread would have to be extremely well blended. I do have a pair of shorts that will be my candidate.
Julie you never cease to amaze me as you find time to do so many different and creative projects. Which of course makes your blog so, so interesting!
I wish I could do this with my favorite pair of business casual slacks that I wear to work, but I don’t know if my boss would understand the technique! The patch and thread would have to be extremely well blended. I do have a pair of shorts that will be my candidate.
Julie you never cease to amaze me as you find time to do so many different and creative projects. Which of course makes your blog so, so interesting!
I wish I could do this with my favorite pair of business casual slacks that I wear to work, but I don’t know if my boss would understand the technique! The patch and thread would have to be extremely well blended. I do have a pair of shorts that will be my candidate.
Julie you never cease to amaze me as you find time to do so many different and creative projects. Which of course makes your blog so, so interesting!
I wish I could do this with my favorite pair of business casual slacks that I wear to work, but I don’t know if my boss would understand the technique! The patch and thread would have to be extremely well blended. I do have a pair of shorts that will be my candidate.
Julie you never cease to amaze me as you find time to do so many different and creative projects. Which of course makes your blog so, so interesting!
I wish I could do this with my favorite pair of business casual slacks that I wear to work, but I don’t know if my boss would understand the technique! The patch and thread would have to be extremely well blended. I do have a pair of shorts that will be my candidate.
Julie you never cease to amaze me as you find time to do so many different and creative projects. Which of course makes your blog so, so interesting!
Gorgeous and I to go through jeans on a regular basis as they are my typical “uniform” most of the year.
Gorgeous and I to go through jeans on a regular basis as they are my typical “uniform” most of the year.
Gorgeous and I to go through jeans on a regular basis as they are my typical “uniform” most of the year.
Gorgeous and I to go through jeans on a regular basis as they are my typical “uniform” most of the year.
Gorgeous and I to go through jeans on a regular basis as they are my typical “uniform” most of the year.
Gorgeous and I to go through jeans on a regular basis as they are my typical “uniform” most of the year.
Brilliant indeed! You are an amazing creative spirit. There is nothing you cannot do!! Thank you for turning me onto something I never knew. Love it! INSPIRING. Thanks for sharing.
Brilliant indeed! You are an amazing creative spirit. There is nothing you cannot do!! Thank you for turning me onto something I never knew. Love it! INSPIRING. Thanks for sharing.
Brilliant indeed! You are an amazing creative spirit. There is nothing you cannot do!! Thank you for turning me onto something I never knew. Love it! INSPIRING. Thanks for sharing.
Brilliant indeed! You are an amazing creative spirit. There is nothing you cannot do!! Thank you for turning me onto something I never knew. Love it! INSPIRING. Thanks for sharing.
Brilliant indeed! You are an amazing creative spirit. There is nothing you cannot do!! Thank you for turning me onto something I never knew. Love it! INSPIRING. Thanks for sharing.
Brilliant indeed! You are an amazing creative spirit. There is nothing you cannot do!! Thank you for turning me onto something I never knew. Love it! INSPIRING. Thanks for sharing.
I think this is neat!! Well done!
I think this is neat!! Well done!
I think this is neat!! Well done!
I think this is neat!! Well done!
I think this is neat!! Well done!
I think this is neat!! Well done!
oh I love what you did here! Super wonderful!
oh I love what you did here! Super wonderful!
oh I love what you did here! Super wonderful!
oh I love what you did here! Super wonderful!
oh I love what you did here! Super wonderful!
oh I love what you did here! Super wonderful!
This is so fun!
This is so fun!
This is so fun!
This is so fun!
This is so fun!
This is so fun!
You did a beautiful job. Now I am anxious to see your kola again. I love what the term Boro means. Thank you for all the information. Happy 4th!
You did a beautiful job. Now I am anxious to see your kola again. I love what the term Boro means. Thank you for all the information. Happy 4th!
You did a beautiful job. Now I am anxious to see your kola again. I love what the term Boro means. Thank you for all the information. Happy 4th!
You did a beautiful job. Now I am anxious to see your kola again. I love what the term Boro means. Thank you for all the information. Happy 4th!
You did a beautiful job. Now I am anxious to see your kola again. I love what the term Boro means. Thank you for all the information. Happy 4th!
You did a beautiful job. Now I am anxious to see your kola again. I love what the term Boro means. Thank you for all the information. Happy 4th!
Mola
Mola
Mola
Mola
Mola
Mola
Just got started on a sashiko sampler–love that white on indigo look!
Never thought of patching the old jeans in this way–thanks to you, now I know about it!
Just got started on a sashiko sampler–love that white on indigo look!
Never thought of patching the old jeans in this way–thanks to you, now I know about it!
Just got started on a sashiko sampler–love that white on indigo look!
Never thought of patching the old jeans in this way–thanks to you, now I know about it!
Just got started on a sashiko sampler–love that white on indigo look!
Never thought of patching the old jeans in this way–thanks to you, now I know about it!
Just got started on a sashiko sampler–love that white on indigo look!
Never thought of patching the old jeans in this way–thanks to you, now I know about it!
Just got started on a sashiko sampler–love that white on indigo look!
Never thought of patching the old jeans in this way–thanks to you, now I know about it!
Love your jeans. gotta get started on sashiko and boro!
Love your jeans. gotta get started on sashiko and boro!
Love your jeans. gotta get started on sashiko and boro!
Love your jeans. gotta get started on sashiko and boro!
Love your jeans. gotta get started on sashiko and boro!
Love your jeans. gotta get started on sashiko and boro!
I need to see a better view of those shoes you’re wearing! They look cool.
I need to see a better view of those shoes you’re wearing! They look cool.
I need to see a better view of those shoes you’re wearing! They look cool.
I need to see a better view of those shoes you’re wearing! They look cool.
I need to see a better view of those shoes you’re wearing! They look cool.
I need to see a better view of those shoes you’re wearing! They look cool.
This is mad dope. Your sashiko paterns look much more natural than other examples I’ve found on google image results.
This is mad dope. Your sashiko paterns look much more natural than other examples I’ve found on google image results.
This is mad dope. Your sashiko paterns look much more natural than other examples I’ve found on google image results.
This is mad dope. Your sashiko paterns look much more natural than other examples I’ve found on google image results.
This is mad dope. Your sashiko paterns look much more natural than other examples I’ve found on google image results.
This is mad dope. Your sashiko paterns look much more natural than other examples I’ve found on google image results.