Sashiko Workshop with Penny Cheuk-Low

Saturday, August 29th, 10:30am-1:30pm

QFA Museum Annex

112 Morris Street, La Conner WA

About the Workshop

Sashiko means “little stabs” in Japanese. This stitching technique was originally used in the cold rural areas of Northern Japan to sew layers of fabric together for warmth and strength. In this workshop, learn to stitch the traditional asanoha (hemp-leaf) pattern using unshin (rhythmic needle handling) technique. Gain an understanding of the historical background and design concepts of sashiko, as well as how to choose fabric and thread materials for future sashiko projects.

About the Instructor

Penny Cheuk-Low is a textile artist who works with vintage and repurposed fabrics using techniques such as appliqué, Sashiko (Japanese hand-stitching) and Boro (mending with fabric scraps). She combines her expertise in traditional Japanese fabrics and dyeing methods with environmentally sustainable materials to express her daily life in the Pacific Northwest.  

Penny studied traditional fabric dyeing in Kyoto, Japan as a fabric designer and kimono fabric dyer. She also holds a degree in Education and spent over 25 years as a Montessori educator and trainer, traveling and teaching throughout Asia. In 2026, Penny travelled to northern Japan to further study Sashiko and Boro techniques from renowned artisans and is delighted to share her knowledge with all who are interested. 

Materials + Supplies

The instructor will bring all necessary materials. The $25 supply fee covers:

-A pack of 2 Sashiko Needles

-One skein of Sashiko Thread

-A Thimble

-A piece of preprinted Sashiko fabric with Asa no ha (Hemp) design, approximately 11’ x 11’ in size

-A piece of 5"x14" cotton fabric for the initial hands-on Sashiko practice

Please bring:

-Small thread cutting scissor

Class Cancellation Policy

Refunds minus a 10% processing fee will be given up to two (2) weeks before the workshop. Requested refunds less than two (2) weeks before the workshop will only be issued if the vacancy is filled, or registrant may use towards another workshop within the same calendar year. In the unlikely event that a Workshop must be cancelled by the Museum, a full refund will be issued. Please email morgan@qfamuseum.org as soon as possible if you cannot attend the workshop you've registered for!  

A Note on Taxes

As of 10/1/2025, there is a wide range of new taxes and fees that are impacting businesses and nonprofit organizations in Washington State. As a result, our classes, workshops, and educational events are now subject to state and local taxes, and we have had to raise our registration fees. Here is a helpful article which explains more about this change and how it's affecting nonprofits in WA state.