These new Olympus 20 meter skein sashiko variegated threads come in 8 new colours, but the really exciting thing about them is that the colour changes in each variegated skein is very short. This is going to make for particularly beautiful sashiko and mending projects!
I've collected these Olympus sashiko thread colours into several groups to help make choosing your colours online easier, because you can see them side by side with other colours. There are 8 of these variegated threads, look for the other 4 here.
This thread is imported from Japan, made from long staple Egyptian cotton by Olympus, a company that has been manufacturing quality sashiko products in Japan for decades.
Sashiko thread is not stranded like embroidery thread, you use the whole thread for your stitching. Just cut it into a comfortable length, thread your needle, and stitch. This thread has a soft matt finish and is about the weight of #5 perle cotton.
All sashiko thread is machine washable. In fact it gets prettier with washing as it plumps up like little grains of rice.
And a final note for new stitchers: Sashiko thread is fat so as you stitch you are adding a lot of extra between the threads of your fabric. This is going to cause the fabric to tighten up and be unable to lay flat unless you leave some slack in the sashiko thread as you stitch. I do this by leaving about a quarter inch of slack in my thread on the back of the fabric every 4 inches if stitching straight long lines, or whenever I turn a corner on designs with shorter lines.
Don't overlook this thread for wool appliqué and toy making. It is one of my favorite threads for both of those because of it's soft texture.
