Tatemimasu (Three Upright Squares)

Yes, I know there are really four squares on point in this block. But if you look closely, you can see that each square is a series of three concentric squares. I have to assume that’s where the name “Three Upright Squares” came from. I Googled the word Tatemimasu, but instead of this block I came up with dozens of pictures of the form of traditional Japanese embroidery called Sashiko. Sashiko means “little stabs.” It describes a form of embroidery that was originally meant to reinforce clothing where it is expected to wear out, or to disguise repaired clothing that has already worn out. Today sashiko is more decorative than functional. It is usually worked in heavy white cotton thread on deep indigo blue cloth. I’m told that it can either be stitched into the top of the quilt before it has been layered, or afterwards, running through the top, back and batting as additional quilting.