Modern Kogin

An interesting read that teaches you how to start this style of embroidery and gives some sweet little projects to get you started. Overall a great book for beginners with clear instructions and diagrams.

-- Jessica Irene Morgan * Amazon *

I had never heard of Kogin until I came across this book. Although this is an ancient technique the designs included in the book are bright, modern and stylish. It starts with a gallery of the items you can make and then you can skip to that section of the book, and they appear to get more complex as you go along. I am loving the button bobbles, I am thinking of making some to add to some upholstery in my bedroom, anyway I digress...

The getting started section easily breaks down the tools and materials and eases you into starting wonderfully. Clear photos with concise text, I think this is perfect for a true beginner to embroidery. I think if you are familiar with cross stitch this could be a natural progression as you will be used to evenweave and linen fabrics.

The charts look clear and easy to follow and the construction instructions are also concise and efficient. I do like how this book is simple and straight to the point, it would be welcoming to a beginner as it is a very user friendly book. I would have liked to learn a little more about the origins of this technique but that could be the geek in me.

-- Sarah Gage * Amazon *

This is a great guide to a fresh and adaptable embroidery style that is suitable for beginners and established crafters alike. Based on traditional Japanese motifs, Sashiko embroidery can take on the look of Japanese, Scandinavian, European contemporary or many other decor trends, and this book gives examples of how you can incorporate that with your choice of colour or embellishment placement.

The book starts with beautifully photographed projects, and all of them are small and simple - less intimidating than many other embroidery project books! The book then goes in to materials and techniques, and as you would expect from a Search Press book there are lots of clear photographs and diagrams to help explain everything. The book finishes with diagrams, charts and explanations of how to create the projects in the front of the book, and these would be easily adaptable to other things - I plan on using some of the charts to add an extra something to some face masks I have.

-- Natalia Forrest * Amazon *

I am fascinated by Sashiko embroidery and pattern darning in general so this book is ideal as it develops both those ideas. There are nearly 40 small projects to work through involving a variety of finished objects. Most of these are really small, like buttons and brooches, but there are also more involved projects like purses and a handbag. The projects give no indication of time required or skill level but the very clear pictures give an indication of the complexity involved. All the projects are clearly photographed at the front of the book and the instructions to make these projects are in a separate section at the back of the book. In between these two sections there is information on the tools and materials needed to produce the items included in the book. Each project also clearly states what is needed to make that item. As an introduction to an embroidery technique I thought this was well thought out with some very interesting projects that wouldn't take too long to finish and would help you develop your skills and interest level in this type of work. If you like working small projects this is a book I would recommend.

-- Chris Jones * Amazon *

Kogin is a style of Japanese sashiko embroidery with a geometric appearance. Simple and timeless, its clean lines and basic elegance is sure to appeal to modern tastes. You can use it to adorn so many things too, from tiny pins to pictures.

It doesn’t take long to learn this straightforward but attractive type of embroidery, and there are plenty of smaller projects here that make up quickly. A lot of them are also of practical rather than decorative use, so you can make attractive buttons, hair ties, Christmas decorations, purses, bags and pincushions. Like all the books I have seen that originated in Japan this one follows a particular layout. At the front are photographs of all the projects, followed by the instructions and patterns. This means you get to whet your appetite by looking at many pages of colourful photographs.

There is a short list of tools and materials, then a useful guide on how to prepare the thread and fabric, read the charts, work the stitches and get the tension right. The projects start simply with the smallest projects such as pins and hair ties, and progress through to the larger, more complex pieces.

You don’t need to be an experienced embroiderer to tackle kogin work but some knowledge of making up projects and doing things like working with button kits, purse frames and zippers is a good idea. This is a lovely book suitable for anybody with a bit of stitching experience.

-- Rachel A Hyde * myshelf.com *

This book is aimed at all kinds of expertise levels from beginners to long term kogin enthusiasts. I think there would be inspiration in it for sewing enthusiasts of all levels.

The book is by Boutique-Sha. They have produced quite a few books with Search Press and are a craft and lifestyle publisher in Japan who have written hundreds of publications and had them translated into English.

The content is great. It teaches you the skills you will need, explains the tools and techniques, and provides 25 inspiring projects you can make. The projects vary from little framed pictures to larger sewing projects like pouches and purses so there is a fab range of items to make no matter what your skill level. I imagine you would start (as I did) with a small project but return to this book again and again to make more items as your skills grow.

The photography is really good quality in this book. There are lots of detailed clear photos in the hints and tips sections to explain the techniques, and the photography to show you the finished projects is really nicely set up too. The section which shows you how to make each project uses illustrations instead of photography and these are really well done too.

To me the book works well because it covers such a wide variety of experience levels. A beginner could pick it up (like I did) and be really happy learning a great new skill, but an experienced person could also pick it up and find plenty of useful tips and lovely projects.

This is a really great book. It has something for beginners, lots for experienced kogin lovers, small projects, big projects, it’s a really well thought out selection of skills and projects. I was a total newbie to the art of kogin and it taught me a great new skill which I think is beautiful. The projects use techniques which date back hundreds of years and make it somehow look traditional or vintage but modern too.

As I said at the start, I thought the best way to review the book was to teach myself a new skill from it. So, I did. I decided to use the sample project pattern to make a piece to insert in a handbag mirror frame I had. I think it turned out really well, which is totally credit to this book.

-- Jo Burgess * www.mrxstitch.com *

Discover the art of kogin, a style of traditional Japanese sashiko embroidery with modern appeal.

With dozens of beautiful and simple geometric patterns, kogin embroidery offers fresh inspiration and authentic technique to proponents of the decorative mending movement. Colourful photos offer step-by-step instruction for learning this simple counted thread embroidery technique. Beginners will discover how to prepare the thread and fabric, how to read kogin charts, and how to make the basic straight stitches that comprise kogin motifs.

Once you’ve mastered the basics, try your hand at one of the 25 adorable and easy projects included in the book.

Featuring bright and modern colour schemes, these accessories are designed for contemporary life. You’ll find an assortment of pretty brooches, barrettes and hair ties, pouches and coin purses, framed samplers, pincushions, and ornaments, plus potholders, coasters, and place mats for the home.

Once you start stitching, you’ll be completely hooked, we guarantee you won’t be able to stop!

* Mindful Crafting *

Kogin is a traditional Japanese style of embroidery which gives a unique and stylish effect to any project. Traditionally used to repair holes in clothing, it has now been brought up to date and used as decoration.

The projects and designs in Modern Kogin are divine. There are samplers, hair clips and ornaments. Each one beautiful. Whether they are given as gifts or made to adorn your home, they will add interest and colour.

The instructions have diagrams, charts and templates where necessary to make each project a joy to complete.

Simple and contemporary, the patterns are easy to follow. Many projects are small, so will be completed in an afternoon. The techniques can be used to make and decorate other ideas you may have.

Filled with inspiring ideas, every embroiderer will love this craft.

-- Tracy Shephard * Amazon *

Modern Kogin is a new book from Boutique-Sha, a Japanese publisher of magazines and books on craft techniques and lifestyle, and Search Press. It introduces the Japanese embroidery technique which originated in the Edo period as a functional method of repairing and reinforcing fabrics. Kogin uses counted stitching techniques and careful placement of parallel lines to create striking geometric patterns which can be used to adorn a wide variety of objects.

After a brief introduction to the technique and its history, Modern Kogin presents the projects covered in the book, from small brooches and hair ties to more complicated pieces including bags and pouches. While the items themselves are generally simple in their construction, requiring only a small amount of knowledge in order to finish the stitching into a completed object, the patterns are intricate and beautiful from the beginning although deceptively simple to stitch.

Kogin embroidery may look complicated, but each piece is made up of nothing more than simple straight lines. While the work is simple, the effect is striking, especially when using bold colours against white fabric.

The patterns include instructions alongside detailed explanation of how Kogin is worked, including tips and tricks to keep your stitches neat and the order in which to work them followed by step-by-step instruction for each project, including help on making up items such as bags, purses and biscornu pincushions.

Modern Kogin is a perfect introduction for a beginner, providing help and assistance in completing the projects to a high standard and avoiding the pitfalls often experienced by those new to the form.

-- Gemma Bridges * The SEW Region Magazine - Book Threa