Abstract

The first alphabet patterns sewn with silk thread using the techniques of Japanese embroidery artists. From block letters to cursive and small patterns, interwoven with images of flowers and animals.

◆Alphabet patterns sewn with Japanese embroidery, devised by Shizuka Kusano and Aya.
◆All basic Japanese embroidery stitches are carefully explained with illustrations.
◆Full of ideas for embroidering Japanese embroidery not only on obi and kimono, but also on everyday clothes and accessories. Methods for making appliqués, brooches, and charms are also explained.

We want to convey the joy and pleasure of sewing and wearing Japanese embroidery, which can be proudly presented to the world... Shizuka Kusano, who has presented numerous Japanese embroidery works both domestically and internationally for over half a century, has devised small alphabet patterns interwoven with images of flowers and animals, together with Aya, who runs her own atelier. From uppercase and lowercase block letters to cursive patterns, the designs are adorable and easy to incorporate into modern life. Basic Japanese embroidery stitches are carefully explained with illustrations, making it perfect for those new to Japanese embroidery.

Author’s Information

Shizuka Kusano is a Japanese embroidery artist and the founder of "Atelier Shizuka Kusano." Born in Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture in 1944, she studied French embroidery under Takiko Moriyama and Japanese embroidery under Masaaki Niwa. She has held solo exhibitions in various locations, including Ginza Mikimoto Hall, Matsuya Ginza, and Nihonbashi Takashimaya. While creating embroidery works, she proposes ways to enjoy embroidery in everyday life. She has appeared on NHK TV's "Oshare Kobo" and TV Asahi's "Tetsuko no Heya." Her books include "Japanese Embroidery from a Single Flower" and "Beautiful Designs of Japanese Embroidery" (NHK Publishing), among others.

Aya was born in Yamanashi Prefecture. In her mid-twenties, she met Shizuka Kusano and entered the world of Japanese embroidery, receiving instruction from her. After traveling to the African savanna and being impressed by the sight of wild animals, she has returned many times, creating works with animals as her theme and working to express a world full of dreams and dynamism. While involved in the operation of "Atelier Kusano Shizuka," she also works on creating her own artwork, and in 2024, she was in charge of the embroidery for "Hymn to Life - Tiny Lives" at the Nihonbashi Takashimaya "Kusano Shizuka Japanese Embroidery Exhibition."