Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Emilie Ma, Multi-Disciplinary Textile Artist specialising in Japanese Sashiko and embroidery, with heritage context from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Explore Japanese Sashiko through rhythm, repetition and thoughtful hand-stitching.
Transform a simple denim bag through careful embellishment and quiet craftsmanship.
Take home a stitched piece shaped by time, attention and intention.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend the day working slowly and attentively with cloth in this immersive Sashiko masterclass at The Old Vicarage.
Using a pre-washed denim bag as your canvas, you’ll explore Japanese Sashiko as a form of surface embellishment rather than repair, learning how repetition, balance and restraint can transform everyday textiles into something quietly expressive and deeply personal.
Guided by Emilie Ma’s thoughtful teaching style, the day unfolds at an unhurried pace, introducing the rhythms, techniques and mindset behind Sashiko while allowing space for reflection, focus and careful making. The emphasis throughout is on attention, material understanding and the quiet satisfaction of working by hand.
Asterion & Co. will frame the day with a short contextual session exploring the heritage and philosophy of Sashiko, from its practical origins in Japanese domestic life to its contemporary relevance in a culture increasingly shaped by speed and disposability.
For those wishing to explore the history and philosophy behind the practice in greater depth, an accompanying article is available in The Asterion Journal.
What you will learn
Understand the principles and philosophy behind Japanese Sashiko
Develop confidence in core stitching techniques and pattern work
Learn how repetition and rhythm shape surface embellishment
Work with Sashiko threads, needles and marking tools effectively
Explore composition, spacing and balance on cloth
Create a finished embellished textile piece by hand
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Contextual session on the heritage and philosophy of Sashiko
Introduction to materials, tools and stitching techniques
Morning practice sessions on sample cloth
Guided work embellishing your denim bag
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Afternoon stitching and pattern development
Final finishing touches and individual guidance
What you’ll leave with
A hand-stitched embellished denim bag
Sample cloth featuring practice techniques and patterns
Greater confidence working with Sashiko stitching
A deeper understanding of rhythm, repetition and textile craft
A calm and restorative day of focused making
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Wednesday 8th July 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Price: £230 per person
Includes: Full tuition, pre-washed denim bag for embellishment, Sashiko threads, needles and marking tools, sample cloth for practice, studio materials, refreshments throughout the day and a seated seasonal lunch
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass combines Emilie Ma’s thoughtful textile practice with Asterion’s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ philosophy, creating a day of attentive making, craftsmanship and quiet focus.
About Emilie Ma
Emilie Ma is a Cornish-born multi-disciplinary artist whose practice spans embroidery, visible mending, scratchboard and jewellery design. After transitioning from jewellery into textile work in 2016, she became deeply engaged with Japanese Sashiko, drawn to its discipline, rhythm and practical intelligence.
Having lived and worked in China, where repair and resourcefulness formed part of everyday life, Emilie brings a grounded and thoughtful approach to teaching. She now works from Somerset, guiding others through slow, attentive textile practices that balance technical skill with quiet reflection.
Read more about Emilie in The Asterion Journal.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
Places are limited and each course is carefully prepared. We encourage you to review our Terms & Conditions before booking. By booking, you agree to them and to the principles that shape our courses.
Seated lunch | Afternoon tea | Small-group
Led by Emilie Ma, Multi-Disciplinary Textile Artist specialising in Japanese Sashiko and embroidery, with heritage context from Neil Crump, Founder of Asterion & Co.
Explore Japanese Sashiko through rhythm, repetition and thoughtful hand-stitching.
Transform a simple denim bag through careful embellishment and quiet craftsmanship.
Take home a stitched piece shaped by time, attention and intention.
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Spend the day working slowly and attentively with cloth in this immersive Sashiko masterclass at The Old Vicarage.
Using a pre-washed denim bag as your canvas, you’ll explore Japanese Sashiko as a form of surface embellishment rather than repair, learning how repetition, balance and restraint can transform everyday textiles into something quietly expressive and deeply personal.
Guided by Emilie Ma’s thoughtful teaching style, the day unfolds at an unhurried pace, introducing the rhythms, techniques and mindset behind Sashiko while allowing space for reflection, focus and careful making. The emphasis throughout is on attention, material understanding and the quiet satisfaction of working by hand.
Asterion & Co. will frame the day with a short contextual session exploring the heritage and philosophy of Sashiko, from its practical origins in Japanese domestic life to its contemporary relevance in a culture increasingly shaped by speed and disposability.
For those wishing to explore the history and philosophy behind the practice in greater depth, an accompanying article is available in The Asterion Journal.
What you will learn
Understand the principles and philosophy behind Japanese Sashiko
Develop confidence in core stitching techniques and pattern work
Learn how repetition and rhythm shape surface embellishment
Work with Sashiko threads, needles and marking tools effectively
Explore composition, spacing and balance on cloth
Create a finished embellished textile piece by hand
How the day unfolds
Warm welcome and introduction
Contextual session on the heritage and philosophy of Sashiko
Introduction to materials, tools and stitching techniques
Morning practice sessions on sample cloth
Guided work embellishing your denim bag
Seated seasonal lunch and time to pause
Afternoon stitching and pattern development
Final finishing touches and individual guidance
What you’ll leave with
A hand-stitched embellished denim bag
Sample cloth featuring practice techniques and patterns
Greater confidence working with Sashiko stitching
A deeper understanding of rhythm, repetition and textile craft
A calm and restorative day of focused making
𐡷𐫱𐡸
Workshop Details
Date: Wednesday 8th July 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: The Old Vicarage, Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset
Price: £230 per person
Includes: Full tuition, pre-washed denim bag for embellishment, Sashiko threads, needles and marking tools, sample cloth for practice, studio materials, refreshments throughout the day and a seated seasonal lunch
Booking terms
By booking, you are entering into an agreement with Asterion & Co. in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy and course guidelines.
This masterclass combines Emilie Ma’s thoughtful textile practice with Asterion’s Heritage-Inspired Learning™ philosophy, creating a day of attentive making, craftsmanship and quiet focus.
About Emilie Ma
Emilie Ma is a Cornish-born multi-disciplinary artist whose practice spans embroidery, visible mending, scratchboard and jewellery design. After transitioning from jewellery into textile work in 2016, she became deeply engaged with Japanese Sashiko, drawn to its discipline, rhythm and practical intelligence.
Having lived and worked in China, where repair and resourcefulness formed part of everyday life, Emilie brings a grounded and thoughtful approach to teaching. She now works from Somerset, guiding others through slow, attentive textile practices that balance technical skill with quiet reflection.
Read more about Emilie in The Asterion Journal.
Need accommodation nearby?
Click here for a list of places to stay overnight before or after your course that we know well and would recommend.
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