Description
Gion-matsuri takes place annually in Kyoto and is one of the most famous festivals in Japan. It dates back to 869 as a religious ceremony to pray for deliverance from plague.
As July approaches, you can hear the sound of Ohayashi (the musical accompaniment played by traditional Japanese instruments) coming out of nowhere, everywhere. It’s the sound of Kyoto in July.
It takes place over the entire month of July and during the festival, the decorated wagons called “Yama” and “Hoko” stand on the streets in the center of the city. The highlight of the festival is “Yamahoko Junko” held on the 17. People pull those huge “Yama” and “Hoko” and parade around town.
Quite unfortunately, Gion-matsuri was cancelled in 2020 due to the outbreak of covid-19. I designed this Gion-matsuri sashiko pattern with a wish for deliverance from plague. We all are in the difficult time, but stay home, stay healthy, and stay creative.
The finished design is approximately 28 cm/ 11 in square. Please note that this file contains the pattern only, and no written instructions. This pattern is easy to follow, as long as you have some basic sewing skills. The only technique you’ll need is a simple running stitch. For help, please refer to these videos: