Olympus sashiko needles, 2-pack

Product description

Each pack contains two special needles (57 and 67 mm) for sashiko, the Japanese needlework technique for mending clothes incorporating geometrical patterns. They are made by Olympus, a respected Japanese manufacturer with a reputation for quality that produces fabric, thread, and needles for traditional and contemporary sashiko.

Traditionally, sashiko stitching is done on blue, indigo-dyed fabric using sashiko thread, which is much thicker than ordinary sewing thread. For that reason, sashiko needles have a larger eye to make threading easier. They are also noticeably sturdier than ordinary sewing needles – they don’t bend while sewing, so it’s easier to pierce multiple layers and they’ll stand up to a lot without breaking. The needle length used depends on the fineness of the work – a shorter needle for dainty stitches, a longer one for long stitches. You can try sashiko with any large needle, but for long-term comfort it’s worth getting a special sashiko needle.

These sashiko needles have a gold-plated eye. The gold coating keeps the eye from corroding and ensures a smooth stitch. When the gold wears off and you’ll know it’s time to get a new needle because the point will also have dulled.