Stitching a Zokin without using knots - learn some useful tips for making a Sashiko Zokin!

Thank you for watching!
In this video, I tried my best to explain the details with my limited English but I'm not very confident...I think you don't have to follow specific method, as long as what you made serves your purpose. For example, you don't have to fold in the raw edges if it becomes too thick. In that case, you can wrap around the edges with a whip stitch or something so that they don't fray easily.

Also, I realised that I forgot to mention about needles in the section of 'thread and needle'.
Here are some information about tools and materials.

Material: Usually, cotton (something absorbent)
Size and thickness: The common size is about the size of A4 or US letter paper but any size is fine. be too thick. Usually, two or three layers of fabric. Thick Zokins are hard to dry completely and unhygienic.
Thread: Cotton Sashiko thread, hand-sewing thread or embroidery thread (2-3 strands). If you're using a sewing machine, sewing machine thread is fine. However, it's much thinner than hand-sewing thread, so it may snap when you squeeze the zokin, if you use it for hand-sewing.
Needle: Use a needle best for your material. As I mentioned in the video, test your material with your needle. It's all about the combination. If your material is tightly woven, it'll be hard to stitch with a thick needle. If you are using a thick thread, you'll need to have a needle with an eye large enough to hold the thread.

Here's the link to the text book I found! It's in Japanese but you can see the visual patterns. It was common to learn a running stitch by making Zokin in Japan. Many old sewing books have the section of ' Zokin Sashi'.
https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1440100/1/7
(文部省 編『初等科裁縫』上,文部省,昭和17. 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション)
Here's the Zokin video if you haven't watch it yet!
   • I heard that my grandma used to make ...  

Here are some other videos which may help you understand the Sashiko stitching tips better.
How to start and finish Sashiko stitches without knots
   • SASHIKO How to start and finish stitc...  
Very basic Sashiko stitching tips
   • Very basic Sashiko stitching tips you...  
SASHIKO This is how I change to a new thread.
   • SASHIKO This is how I change to a new...  
Investigating Sashiko running stitch
   • Investigating a Sashiko-style running...  

00:00 Introduction
01:04 The materials
02:04 The size and thickness
02:36 Thread and needle
03:05 Making a Zokin
04:35 Stitching a pattern
06:08 Starting without a knot
08:56 Changing to a new thread
10:45 Moving to anther line
11:13 Finishing a thread
14:04 Cutting excess threads
14:25 Reveal time

#sashiko