# Sashiko patterns for embroidery and weaving

**URL:** <https://forum.patternclub.org/t/sashiko-patterns-for-embroidery-and-weaving/663>\
**Category:** Catalog\
**Created:** [18 June 2025 14:34 UTC](https://forum.patternclub.org/t/sashiko-patterns-for-embroidery-and-weaving/663 "2025-06-18T14:34:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![forresto](https://forum.patternclub.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@forresto](https://forum.patternclub.org/u/forresto)\
**Post date:** [18 June 2025 14:34 UTC](https://forum.patternclub.org/t/sashiko-patterns-for-embroidery-and-weaving/663/1 "2025-06-18T14:34:02Z")

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I took a mending class and was drawn to _Hitomezashi Sashiko_ which are patterns made by offsetting rows and columns of stitches by 0 or 1 stitch length. As a programmer I challenged myself to stay AFK during the class, but after the class I had to experiment with programming some visualizations of the patterns. I made this in collaboration with the class instructor, who also does these patterns in weaving, which is called _Sashiko Ori_.

I started experimenting in [Cuttle](https://cuttle.xyz/@forresto/hitomezashi-sashiko-weaving-patterns-Yf83xDJbIQS3) (parametric 2d design app), and then made a stand-alone web app:

> **[Sashiko Design Generator 一目刺しパターンジェネレーター](https://www.forresto.com/sashiko)**
>
> Web app to create Hitomezashi Sashiko embroidery patterns. 一目刺しパターンジェネレーター 刺し子パターンジェネレーター

Since making this she has used the generator in classes and workshops, and it’s cool to see weavers experimenting and iterating on patterns on their own devices.

 ![weaving and looking at pattern preview on ipad](https://forum.algorithmicpattern.org/uploads/secondsite/original/1X/8717be47d1354cb066fbfdedfa9121d89f090639.avif)

Here are some examples of the weaving output from my co-author: [Sashiko Ori Weaving: A Conversation with Beth Ross Johnson](https://northhouse.org/blog/sashiko-ori-weaving-a-conversation-with-beth-ross-johnson)

This experience confirms that there is a big unmet demand for niche design tools for craftspeople. I’d like to do more collaborations like this. I think that folk schools, community collages, and fab labs are fertile grounds for this code + craft collaboration. I’m working on [Cuttle.xyz](https://cuttle.xyz), and part of our mission is to make it more accessible to build 2D parametric design tools like this.

In a workshop, Beth was asked how many patterns are possible to make with our Hitomezashi Sashiko Pattern Generator.

I think it’s 2^(warp+weft), so… a comically huge number of possibilities: 2^56.

By limiting the pattern to 4x4, I see 256 unique patterns. My theory is that the **repeating** patterns are included in the list of **every** pattern, which can be represented by binary numbers. Is there a way to prove that the patterns are unique?

 ![256 patterns made by stitching 4 rows and columns with either no offset or an offset of one stitch length.](https://forum.algorithmicpattern.org/uploads/secondsite/original/1X/36304e4e5603a604146df1bf4128cea72223f544.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![leet](https://forum.patternclub.org/user_avatar/forum.patternclub.org/leet/32/304_2.png) [@leet](https://forum.patternclub.org/u/leet)\
**Post date:** [5 September 2025 12:48 UTC](https://forum.patternclub.org/t/sashiko-patterns-for-embroidery-and-weaving/663/2 "2025-09-05T12:48:37Z")

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I love projects like this. This scratches all my itches too! (generative, weaving textiles, ‘simple’ but layers of complexity, “DIY”). Sashiko as a concept really appeals - both for its emphasis on re-use, mending and re-making beautiful. Forrest, I’d love to meet up (if you’ll be in person at Alpaca) and learn more about Cuttle and how I may be able to introduce it to the small art and technology lab we’re assembling at my school.