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Sashiko Workshop 2026: Core & Essence

Regular price $330.00
Unit price
per 

Saturday, April 18, 10 am - 4:30 pm
Sunday, April 19, 10 am - 4:30 pm

Loop of the Loom – Dumbo
197 Plymouth St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Due to the popularity of this workshop, we will offer the same session on two different days. This is a one-day workshop featuring guided instruction and a lecture by Atsushi “Azu” Futatsuya, an authentic Japanese sashiko artist and curator.

We welcome learners of all levels who are beginning—or continuing—their journey with sashiko. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced stitcher, this workshop is for those who wish to connect with the authentic spirit of Japanese craftsmanship. Together, we will stitch threads that carry both tradition and possibility into the future.

Azu was born in Takayama, Gifu, Japan, as the third generation of a traditional, family-run sashiko workshop that supported many craftsmen. He will give a lecture on the art and history of sashiko, drawing on the wisdom of his family’s tradition and his many years of teaching experience.

Participants will learn how to use a long sashiko needle and thimble, create even stitches, and experience the joy of stitching while making a cloth in the asanoha pattern. Begin practicing this meditative needlework and advance your skills with Azu’s extensive hands-on guidance. Each student may take their work home using the Upcycle Stitches Sashiko Kit, which will be used during the workshop (an additional material fee of $75 will be collected in class).

Fee (not including materials):

$330 or $320 (discount through Zelle, cash, check payment)

Materials (includes Sashiko Kit by Upcycle Stitches):

$75 (paid day of directly to instructor)

AS PART OF

Sashiko: A Living Tradition of Japanese Stitching

April 18 - 19, 2026 10 am - 6 pm

MEET THE ARTIST

Atsushi and Keiko Futatsuya

Atsushi "Azu" Futatsuya is a Sashiko artist and curator, and the third-generation practitioner of a traditional Sashiko family in Gifu, Japan. He grew up immersed in the world of textile artisanship, surrounded by piles of fabric, needles, thimbles, and endless spools of colored thread.

Having moved to the US after college, it was the passing of his father that fatefully drew him back to the family legacy. Embracing Sashiko from across the ocean, Azu felt the "spirit" rooted within him begin to awaken. This personal journey led him to realize that the true meaning of Sashiko lies in correctly preserving and sharing the profound cultural and spiritual background of Japan.

He launched the "Sashi.Co" alongside his mother, Keiko—who brings over thirty years of stitching expertise—as a platform to showcase their masterful work. While Sashiko is gaining global popularity for its simplicity and the "visible mending" movement, Azu offers a unique dual perspective: he honors Sashiko both as a humble, functional craft and as a sophisticated contemporary art form. Through his social media platform, "Sashiko Story," and a recent feature on the BBC, he continues to introduce the world to the deep beauty and philosophy of this traditional craft.

Keiko Futatsuya's life has long been intertwined with the Sashiko tradition of the family she married into in Takayama, Japan. For over thirty years, she supported the family business from behind the scenes, dedicated to managing the household and providing the foundation for the many Sashiko artisans to flourish.

It was only after the passing of her husband that her own journey as a stitcher truly began. Encouraged by her son, Atsushi, they joined hands to launch the "Sashi.Co" project—supporting one another as they shared the true spirit of Sashiko with the world.

Her work is celebrated for its unique sensibility; while grounded in masterful technique, her stitches are not bound by traditional patterns, but rather express her own artistic vision. Her heart for the craft has led to collaborations with Sashiko lovers worldwide, and also she has dedicated herself to building stitching communities to support the emotional and economic recovery of tsunami survivors.

Today, Keiko continues to create and teach at her home studio in Takayama. In a space filled with her many finished works, she remains devoted to her daily practice and to sharing the joy of Sashiko with those who visit her.