Sashiko's beauty is understandably popular, and here's the first book on stitching two little-known traditional styles: kogin and hishizashi.

Japanese expert Keiko Sakamoto--who began her intensive study of them while living in the American Midwest--explains these intriguing decorative embroidery styles.

- 31 projects, with step-by-step photo instructions, range from a simple bookmark to advanced wall tapestries

- Increasing project difficulty levels satisfy both novices and experienced sashiko stitchers

- Photos of vintage pieces, many rarely seen outside museums, showcase the craft's origins in northern Japan

- For ongoing reference and use, includes one of the most extensive libraries of traditional kogin and hishizashi pattern templates to be found anywhere (80 and 200 templates, respectively)