刺子繡含義為「小刺」，是傳統技藝所用的簡單平針的精準描述。刺子繡源自於民眾對服裝保暖與節約的需求，融合鄉村風格與繁複的設計之技法[1]。近幾年刺繡的流行，刺子繡亦跟隨著流行股風潮湧進，然在一般消費者眾對於刺子繡工藝的起源與演變鮮少瞭解。現今有許多日本傳統的工藝伴隨著日常生活，刺子繡融入現代發展已不再局限於服裝用品，廣泛使用在各種家居用品上，亦根據流行性而衍生出各種不同的樣貌。本研究主要探討刺子繡技法的演變與應用，透過歷史文獻與圖案寓意的分析，了解刺子繡從古至今的技法演變與應用變化，以供有興趣的讀者激發的創作靈感與設計者參考運用。 研究結果得知，刺子繡以拱針針法演變出十種不同的圖案，將寓意分為自然景觀、祝福與生活環境刺子繡的圖樣為主要的三項特點。經由刺子繡以簡單的刺繡技巧帶出對文化的傳承，一針一線皆付於著深刻的寓意，色彩及圖樣規範影響下，每一個圖紋的寓意都充斥著對生活、家族、自然的環境及對子嗣的祝福。演變至今富含寓意的圖紋，經過演變及發展應用，已經褪下它原有的歷史含意，現今已轉變成裝飾用途之趨勢。

The purpose of this study is to understand the history of the Sashiko embroidery and analysis of Sashiko patterns. The definition of Sashiko is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching (running stitch) in Japan and is also named kosashi (little stabs). The Sashiko embroidery is original from rural north of Japan during the Edo period (1615-1868). In Japan there is a long-standing tradition of layering and re-stitching material to create a thicker, warmer more durable garment. Today this technique is often used for purely decorative purposes in quilting and embroidery. This document examines ten Sashiko patterns by using running stitch technique; and each pattern divides into three sections: nature, life, and blessing.