Waiting to Stitch: Meeting My Sashiko Teacher, Atsushi Futatsaya

Atsushi Futatsaya at 2024 QuiltCon

At my first QuiltCon in February 2024, I had one goal in mind: to learn from Atsushi Futatsaya of Sashi.Co. His “Core & Essence” workshop had sold out almost as soon as registration opened, but something in me knew I had to be in that room.

Every day leading up to QuiltCon, I refreshed the registration page, hoping for a last-minute opening. I joined the waitlist. I checked the “Buy/Sell Board” as soon as I arrived in Raleigh. I even asked QuiltCon staff if there were any secret ways to slip into a full class. Their advice was simple: show up 15 minutes early, wait outside, and hope someone no-showed — provided Atsushi had an extra materials kit.

So I showed up not 15 minutes early, but 30. I stood outside the door and quietly prayed for a miracle. Something inside me said: If I can learn from this person, it will change everything about how I understand sashiko.

And then, it happened. Someone had food poisoning and wouldn’t be there. A seat opened. A kit was available. I stepped into the workshop, equal parts relieved and overwhelmed with gratitude.

From the very first moment, I knew the wait had been worth it. Atsushi’s teaching was both succinct and expansive. His explanations cut through the noise and revealed the core of sashiko: rhythm, respect, and repetition. His practice methods were simple yet profound, showing me that mastery is not about speed or perfection, but about presence. And his stories — about family, tradition, and the responsibility of carrying forward — gave depth to every stitch.

I walked out of that room with more than just technique. I walked out with a deeper sense of connection: to the cloth, to the tradition, and unexpectedly, to a teacher who would become a friend.

Learning from Atsushi has completely reshaped my approach to sashiko. It reminded me that sometimes the most important lessons are not the ones you schedule neatly into your calendar, but the ones you wait, hope, and show up early for.