Hari-Kuyo Festival of Broken Needles

Today is February 8th, where, in Japan, the Festival of Broken Needles is celebrated. Each year the a ceremony is held to give thanks to the needles that needle workers have used in their stitching over the last 12 months.  Seamstresses and embroiderers take their broken and worn needles to a shrine where  the needles are placed in tofu or jelly. The ceremony is to give gratitude and show respect to the needles and to pray for improved needle working skills. The belief is that inanimate objects also have a soul and as women stitch they pass their burdens onto their needles  The needles are given a soft resting place.

Several years ago I participated in a course held by Susan Elliott to create a needlebook.

My needle book has been well used.

The last page of this book is where broken and worn needles are stored.

I place my needles in a piece of batting and put that in a small container and bury it in my rose garden.

I have made several needle books now and given them as gifts.

Hari-Kuyo is a fascinating tradition that has been celebrated for several hundred years.

To read more about how I made my first needlebook and lots more about this wonderful tradition see here.

Susan has a post about the festival and how to create your own needlebook here .

Have you made a needle book?

Harikuyo 2014 and lots of applique

Once again it is time for the Festival of Needles, a Japanese tradition, where stitchers give thanks for their needles.
On February 8th each year broken needles are honored by laying them at rest.
I collect my broken and worn needles in the back of my needlebook.

I have placed my needles in some soft batting, placed them in a container to be buried in my rose garden.

My needles have been used for machine and hand piecing, applique, quilting and embroidery. Hours of meditation, improving my skills and creating useful and decorative objects for myself and others.

To learn lots more about Hari-Kuyo click here.  Susan also has lots more about the Festival on her blog here.


In the last few days I have managed to finish 3 different hand applique blocks.

Firstly Block 18 of CCCQ, Mary Mc Kissick.

I have started stitching the 2nd set of Noah and Matilda blocks. This one is Red Leaf Bouquet.

Lastly is the block that took the longest. My first completed corner block for Roseville Album.

Some close ups..

Keep safe everyone! Here it is very hot and windy with high fire danger. We can see and smell smoke. Don't worry we are safe!! The high winds are bringing smoke from fires away from us.
We are looking forward to a cool change later today.

Hari-kuyo - Festival of Broken Needles.

You may remember that early last year I participated in an online course to make a needlebook with Susan of Plays With Needles.  Click here for my post when I finished my first needlebook. It explains a little about the construction of the needlebook and a short explanation of the Hari-Kuyo tradition. For an even better description and more detail on the Festival of Broken Needles look here on Susan's blog.

Since then I have made several more needlebooks and given them as gifts to fellow stitchers in my family.

Here is my needlebook after a year of use.

Today, February 8th, is the day of the Hari-Kuyo festival in Japan. It is the day to honour our broken needles. The ceremony is to show respect to the tools' faithful service and to honour their value.

I have collected my broken and worn needles over the past 12 months and kept them in the back of my needlebook ready for today.

Traditionally the broken needles are placed in tofu because it is soft and soothing for the needles. I don't have any tofu, so I placed my needles in some wool batting and wrapped them in tissue paper.

I then buried my broken needles in the backyard garden and marked the place with a small stone.

I will be back tomorrow with a link to Susan's blog post about her Hari-Kuyo ceremony and lots of links to others who have made the needlebooks and saved their broken needles for February 8th, the Festival of Broken Needles.

Click here to see Susan's post. There are quite a few links to other's posts about their needlebooks and Hari-Kuyo ceremony.