Festive Slow Stitch Trees – Boro and Sashiko Style

Taking inspiration from the Boro and Sashiko use of fabric scraps, create your own unique festive tree – or start a mini forest! Create a beautiful festive ornament, taking inspiration from Boroboro (using fabric scraps) and Sashiko running stitches. In Japanese, boro refers to tatters or mini scraps of fabric which are used to repair and extend the life of textiles by layering them with the running stitches of sashiko. Taking this as our inspiration, we will layer mini scraps of fabrics, ribbons and other embellishments to create a keepsake (maybe heirloom!) Christmas tree. You will be supplied with everything you need to create your tree in the workshop with a wide selection of fabrics and embellishments to choose from. You may decide to go down a route of traditional festive colours or perhaps choose a more ‘Japanese’ influenced range of colours. If you have particular fabrics or meaningful embellishments you wish to include, do please feel free to bring them along. You will gain skills to continue stitching and decorating your tree – don’t forget – this is slow stitching, focussing on calm, mindful stitching, we are not in a hurry or a race, we are enjoining the process! It might also be nice to leave a little room for an extra embellishment each year to your tree which would be a lovely tradition to begin. As you sew the lines of simple running stitches your unique ornament will emerge. At the same time, the repetition of these stitches will encourage a calm focus and presence – something we all need in the run up to the festive period! Your tutor has a depth of teaching experience with adults, lifelong creativity and a personal connection to Japan, having lived there for a time as a child and, more recently, revisited several times. Her guidance creates a supportive and friendly environment where the enjoyment of learning and the sharing of a creative experience come together. What to expect: · Tutor led session with friendly, enthusiastic support at every stage · Exploration of how different patterns can be created with scraps and simple stitches · Step-by-step guidance to complete the tree · All materials needed, including a base for the tree to stand in · A relaxed and creative space in which to practise your slow stitching · Skills to use after the workshop to create a mini forest or woodland! Whether you wish to explore a new craft or are seeking a calm, creative experience, this workshop offers an opportunity to stitch with intention and enjoy the quiet satisfaction of creating something beautiful by hand.