And we’re back with part 2 of our Colonial Needle Company Gift Guide! Whether you’re a maker, your friend is a maker, or your favorite person is a maker, this will get you started on solid ground. There was too much good stuff to cram into one post so we broke it up for you (in no particular order). Be sure to go back and check out Part 1 here and do NOT miss out on the talent we recruited to help us with our YouTube videos. He’s kind of a big deal. [YouTube Part 1 video link here] [YouTube Part 2 video link here]

And now, onward with Part 2!

Mat Smoother

A miracle product as far as we’re concerned. Colonial Needle Company sent this to us and we’ll be honest, we were skeptical. Really skeptical. We called it “one of those products we thought was going to be useless until we tried it. Now we don’t know how we lived without it!” This simple tool extended the life of our regular rotary cutting mats and, surprisingly, worked on our industrial-strength cutting table. We were about to chuck our small rotary mat entirely, and our big cutting table was in such bad shape we were facing the miserable task of sanding it down and flipping the entire top. <shudder> Not a fun prospect in our little workspace. The Mat Smoother smoothed out burrs and grooves that were causing skips in our cutting and that looked terrible on camera. If your maker friend uses cutting mats of any sort, this is the gift that will make them think you’re a genius.

Roxanne Glue – Glue Stick & Temporary Adhesive Spray

We love and use all of the Roxanne glue products but our favorites are the glue stick and the temporary adhesive spray. The glue stick is lightweight glue that doesn’t gum up our machine or hand sewing needles, and it washes out completely. We’ve used it for everything from boro patchwork, mending, and appliqué and it works beautifully every time. No residue, no fabric discoloration, no problems.

But let’s talk about that Temporary Adhesive Spray because this was a game-changer for us. It’s safe to use indoors and any overspray comes right off with a damp washcloth. No more toxic fumes that make us woozy or give us headaches. We still open a window, but we don’t have to move the car out of the garage to baste our big quilts anymore. This has revolutionized everything from our large quilts to smaller boro and appliqué  projects where we want to position patches and still be able to move them around without worrying about gassing ourselves in the process. If you or your maker friend does any kind of quilting, appliqué, or layered fabric work, this spray will change their life.

Presencia Sampler Packs

We fell down a rabbit hole with these and we’re not even a little sorry about it. CNC handed us some samplers at a trade show, including sizes and colors we never thought we’d use, and now we keep reaching for them for all those little extra touches. Yes, they used the “try it you’ll like it” line on us… and it worked! The No. 3 sampler packs are our favorites because they come in pretty color sets and are incredibly versatile for thread crochet projects, embroidery, couching, and edge stitching. We even did a thread crochet project using the No. 3 size that turned out gorgeous.

That said, having a selection of the metallic threads is a dream when we want to add a little extra something to a project. Then of course there’s the size 8 and… well… you get the idea. We love a sampler pack to play with. Here’s the truth: if we have a product on hand, we will find a way to use it. Having these sampler packs keeps our options open and our creativity flowing. We raid all of them on a regular basis. Especially for embellishing and small mending projects. No particular color set is a favorite. We love them all. Any maker would love to have these to experiment and work with.

Colonial Needle Company Gift Card

And, finally, if all else fails and you waited WAY too long, or you want something you can pop into a fabric card (see our DIY Fabric Card post from 2024 https://blog.colonialneedle.com/diy-fabric-cards/), you can’t go wrong with a Colonial Needle Company Gift Card. Money to spend on our favorite products? Yes please! Sometimes the best gift is letting your maker friend choose exactly what they need for their next project. No guesswork, no returns, just some much deserved retail therapy after a busy holiday making season.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re a maker shopping for yourself (no judgment… we do it all the time!), a maker shopping for another maker, or a brave non-maker venturing into the unknown void of craft gift territory, these products are exactly what you are looking for. They’re the tools we actually use on a daily basis, the ones that live in our kits, the ones that make us better at what we do.

The beauty of these gifts is that they work for any skill level and almost any fiber and textile craft. They’re practical, they solve real problems, and they show you actually put thought into the gift. Bundle a few several together for a basket, tuck one a couple into a stocking, or go all out and create the ultimate maker’s starter kit.

Happy gift giving, folx! May your holidays be filled with Creative Chaos, plenty of needles, and perfectly sharp rotary blades.

STITCH ON!

Shannon & Jason​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

(Spoiler: Not necessarily.)

Every now and then, a trend or “hot take” makes its way across the internet— and lately, stainless steel needles have been getting all the buzz. The claim: that stainless steel needles are “better, sharper, stronger, and overall, superior to everything else out there.”

But here’s the truth: when it comes to sewing, quilting, and needlepoint, high-carbon steel needles with nickel plating — like the ones Colonial Needle has imported from England for 100 years — are the superior choice.  The main reason for this is that the high carbon content of the steel alloy allows for the needles to be heat treated at incredibly high temperatures to harden them like no other, then tempered to give them the required spring.  This is simply not possible with low carbon composition of Stainless Steel.

Let’s take a closer look at why.

The Difference Between High-Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel

	High Carbon Steel Needles (Nickel-Plated)	Stainless Steel Needles
Composition	Iron based alloy with a high carbon content, plated with nickel for corrosion resistance	Iron based alloy high in chromium for corrosion resistance and relatively low carbon content
Hardness	Very hard core; can be sharpened to an extremely fine point	Slightly softer but still durable
Sharpness Retention	Excellent — maintains a sharp tip for a long time	Good, but tends to dull faster under heavy use due to the softness of stainless steel
Corrosion Resistance	Improved by nickel plating, but plating can wear off over time if made poorly	Naturally resistant to rust and corrosion throughout
Flexibility	Superior strength resists bending, but may snap if bent excessively	More flexible. Less likely to break, but more likely to remain bent.
Surface Finish	Smooth, bright nickel coating; may tarnish over time as coating wears if made poorly	Naturally shiny and maintains luster over time, but often creates more “drag”
Cost	Generally lower	Typically higher
Best Uses	Ideal for precise needle placement and perfect stitches requiring sharpness	For sewists with a Nickel allergy, and preferred in environments with moisture exposure

Why High-Carbon Steel Wins

When you pick up a high-quality needle, what matters most is how it feels and performs in your hand. High-carbon steel gives you:

• A sharper, smoother point that glides effortlessly through fabric and fibers.
• Less bending and more precise stitch placement, even with heavier threads or more coarse fabrics.
• Consistent performance, stitch after stitch.

That’s why professional stitchers, quilters, and embroiderers have trusted high-carbon steel needles for generations. They simply work better — and that’s what matters most.

The Finishing Touch: Nickel Plating

Applying nickel plating to our needles gives the needle a mirror-like smoothness that allows it to pass through fabric with ease, and it also adds a layer of protection against rust and corrosion.

So while stainless steel relies on chromium for rust resistance, nickel-plated high-carbon steel needles achieve the same benefit — without sacrificing sharpness, strength, or feel.  The only true benefit to using Stainless Steel needles would be if you were allergic to the Nickel plating.

So Don’t Believe Everything You Hear Online

The claim that “stainless steel needles are the best” sounds good in theory — but in practice, it doesn’t hold up. Stainless needles may look shiny and promise rust resistance, but they can’t match the performance of a high-carbon steel needle where it really counts: in sharpness, durability, and smooth stitching.

Our manufacturer in England has  been perfecting the craft of needle-making for over 150 years – since 1840! The high-carbon steel, nickel-plated needles from brands like John James, Mary Arden, Colonial Needle, Richard Hemming, Roxanne, and S. Thomas & Sons are designed to give makers the best possible stitching experience — no trends required.

The Bottom Line

If you want a needle that is strong, stays sharp, feels smooth, and lasts through countless projects, choose high-carbon steel with nickel plating. It’s the traditional choice for a reason — and still the best one today.

Hey there folx! It’s Shannon & Jason and we’re back with our favorite list of products from Colonial Needle Company to inspire your holiday gift giving. Whether you’re a maker yourself, your friend is a maker, or your favorite person is a maker, this will get you started on solid ground. And dare we say, even make you a gift giving hero.

Let’s talk about that particular terror that grips the heart of non-makers when they’re shopping for their crafty friends. You know who you are. You walk into a craft store, see 47 different types of scissors, and suddenly you’re questioning every life decision that led you to this moment. Fear not! We’ve got you covered.

Grab a few of these as stocking stuffers or bundle them together into the ultimate maker’s gift basket. Having a holiday auction for your group? Makers are going to want this! Guild gift exchanges, holiday grab-n-go gift exchanges, or a gift for yourself (it’s totally valid to give yourself a gift!). And if you know your person is horrible at picking gifts that you want, you can always save this list and send it to them.

We would like to say in advance that there are SO many possibilities for gifts on the Colonial Needle Company site, but these are the products we reach for on a regular basis and carry in our kits for almost daily use. Also, these are in no particular order. We tried to rank them but, in the interest of continued wedded harmony, we gave up on that and randomized our picks. So without further ado… here is the Shannon & Jason 2025 Colonial Needle Company Gift Guide!

Sixth Finger Stiletto

Easy to hold because of the textured handle and it is essential for guiding fabrics under the presser foot of your sewing machine. Safety first, folx! We’ve known people who have pierced their fingers with the machine needle (GAH!), and Shannon has personally sacrificed a French tip manicure to the sewing gods. This little tool keeps your digits safe while giving you precise control. The flat tip does double duty as an EPP creasing tool. We featured it in our EPP project post this past summer https://blog.colonialneedle.com/epp-take-it-with-you/ showing how it keeps glue off your manicure and off the rest of our fabric when folding over those fiddly paper piecing edges.

Easy-Store Measuring Tape

Before we discovered these measuring tapes, we used to fake it by looping old hair ties or tiny rubber bands to keep our tapes tidy in our sewing kits. If you have also tried this trick, you know that the hair ties tend to wiggle their way off or the rubber bands break. The result is that the measuring tapes end up all tangled in the bottom of our kits. If you’ve ever reached into your project bag and pulled out a snarled mess of measuring tape wrapped around scissors, needles, and (somehow) knotted around some stray thread, you know the pain. This has been the bane of crafter’s existence for as long as these tapes have been around. The Easy-Store lives in our travel kits and our project baskets (Shannon has one right next to her as we write this) because it stays put. No unraveling, no tangling, and no trying to find where that hair tie went. Just a measuring tape that stays neat and tidy until you need it.

Needle Wheel

Here’s the thing: we are by no definition beginners, but we still use this as a quick reference check. It’s perfect for those “wait… could I be using something more suited to this task?” moments when you’re reaching for your usual needle but wonder if there’s a better option. For beginners, this is absolutely invaluable and will save so much frustration and help prevent failed projects. For experienced makers, we use it mostly as a reference tool when we’re writing content now, but it lives in our workspace hanging on our peg board for those occasional double-checks. No more second-guessing yourself about needle types. Just spin the wheel and get your answer.

Thimble Pack Plus

We have these at every work station in our studio and in every stitching kit. A must-have for hand sewists, quilters, and embroiderers. Whether you’re piecing a quilt, doing delicate embroidery work, or hand-stitching a binding, these thimbles are going to save your fingertips and maybe even your sanity. They come in multiple configurations, so there’s always one that fits the task just right. Trust us. If your maker friend does any hand sewing at all, they can never have too many of these magical little thimbles. They’re like hair ties for crafters (wait for it); they multiply when you buy them but somehow disappear when you need them most. So buy a couple of these.

Long Darners & Palm Thimble Combo

This product combo holds a special place in our hearts because these are the tools we use for our sashiko and boro projects. Without these, we just couldn’t do what it is that we do do! The Long Darners give you the reach you need for those long, gathered running stitches, and the Palm Thimble provides the right leverage and control that lets you work for hours without destroying your hands. If your person is into Japanese stitching techniques, visible mending, or hand quilting (Yes! We use them for sashiko-style quilting), this combo is like giving them a superpower. These aren’t just tools, they’re the difference between a painful hand-stitching session and a meditative, enjoyable one.

Needle Grip-It

These unassuming little wonders are absolutely essential for all types of needlework from sashiko to EPP and embroidery. Just apply to the tips of your fingers and they give you a secure grip without any bulk, so they don’t interfere with your work. They make pulling needles through multiple layers so much easier, and they’re especially helpful if you have any hand issues or arthritis. Just remember to take them off when you’re finished… ever wash your hair with these on? One of us has… not saying who. (Spoiler: Jason doesn’t have any hair, so you can probably figure out the culprit from our photo.)

Dual Rotary Blade Sharpeners

LOVE! No really… we love these. Rotary cutter blades are expensive when you use them a lot, and these give them a second life. Actually, used properly, they have given our rotary blades multiple lives. They come in sizes for 28mm, 45mm and 60mm blades, and you can get two or three sharpenings out of a blade before you need to test for replacement. Even getting just two uses saves serious money. After all, it doesn’t do to use dull blades. In fact, a dull blade is dangerous and can slip or catch, causing injuries or ruining your fabric. These sharpeners get us back to creating faster without the expense of constantly replacing blades. ’Nuff said. If your person has rotary cutters, they want these. Trust us.

Okay! That’s it for Part 1. Again, in no particular order so be sure to come back for Part 2 which drops next week for more of our favorites to inspire you to be a better gifter. Or maybe to buy your own gifts! Seriously, grab your favorites, wrap them up, and put a tag on it to yourself from Santa. We’re definitely not above such things. Speaking of the big guy, did you hear who we recruited to help out with our YouTube video? Better go check that out if you want to stay on the nice list. Just sayin’!

Remember to share this list with a friend who could use some gift giving inspiration or who needs a hint so they get you exactly what you want this year.

STITCH ON!

Shannon & Jason

The gift-giving season sneaks up fast. One minute you’re enjoying the last cozy days of fall, the next you’re scrolling madly through websites and scrambling wildly through crowded stores looking for presents that don’t feel like they came from a cold, impersonal assembly line. Really? Does anyone deserve yet another pair of taco covered socks that seemed hilarious online at 1am or a scented candle that smells of mystery musk?

Here’s the good news: You’re a maker. Which means you probably already have everything you need to make a heartfelt but useful gift already sitting in your craft nook.

We present the sashiko & boro coasters! This isn’t just another project. These are little squares of stitched-up sustainability that are equal parts practical and beautiful. These coasters combine two iconic Japanese textile traditions (boro and sashiko) with fabric scraps that might otherwise go sit languishing in a box or *gasp* be thrown away. The result? Handmade gifts that protect your furniture, start conversations, and prove that “leftover” fabric is just fabric that’s waiting for its moment to shine.

What makes these coasters such a perfect gift? We’re glad you asked!

There’s something satisfying about making gifts that people will actually use. Coasters certainly check that box, but these aren’t your basic squares of cork from the discount bin at the local big box store. The thoughtful mending aesthetic of boro patchwork paired with the rhythmic, careful stitching of sashiko creates texture, color, and character. Each one is unique because, well… every scrap is unique. No two coasters are going to look exactly the same.

A Quick History Lesson (We Promise It’s Interesting)

Boro and sashiko are certainly experiencing a revival over the past several years, but they weren’t always the trendy, fashionable techniques they are today. Boro and sashiko were born from necessity in rural Japan where fabric was precious and throwing anything away was unthinkable. Boro refers to the patchwork mending of textiles where a person layers scraps to reinforce worn or torn areas and extend the life of garments and household items. Sashiko, with its distinctive running stitch, served both to strengthen fabric and to hold patches in place. You can have sashiko without boro, but you can’t have boro with sashiko.

Over time, what started as a necessity evolved into the art form and craft we know today. The stitches are decorative, the patterns are intentional, and the philosophy behind them of honoring materials, embracing imperfection, and celebrating repair over replacement resonates across cultures. Today, when we stitch boro patches with sashiko thread, we’re tapping into that same spirit of resourcefulness and sustainability.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

Materials:

• 1 fat quarter of Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric (or any quilting cotton) for tops and bottoms. We also like using denim for the backing fabric for an even more durable coaster. Really whatever you have on hand that can stand up to repeated use is great.
• Fabric scraps for boro patches – random shapes and sizes work perfectly. We used our Cherrywood scraps for the samples but really, we reach for whatever is in our scrap bins when we are making these.

Tools: Our Colonial Needle Company Dream Team for Sashiko

• John James Long Darners – These needles are perfect for sashiko stitching. The length gives you more stitches per pass, they are a little flexible so that give a little over the patches, and the sharp point handles multiple fabric layers without complaint.

• Palm Thimble – If you’ve never used one of these, prepare to wonder how you lived without it. It sits in your palm and lets you push the needle through layers with control and zero finger pain.

• Hand sewing needle – For closing up the turning opening. We are a divided household on our preferred hand sewing needles. Jason likes his JJ Sharps in size 7 or 9, while Shannon keeps a supply of JJ Betweens in size 11 and JJ Milliners in size 11 at hand.

• Presencia 12wt thread for sashiko stitching – Presencia 12wt has the weight and texture that makes sashiko stitches really stand out. It glides through fabric smoothly and creates the signature dimensional texture that makes sashiko stitches so beautiful.

Other:

• Roxanne glue stick (for temporarily holding patches in place)
• Pins or clips for machine sewing

Cut:

• Six, 5.5″ squares for coaster tops
• Six, 5.5″ squares for coaster bottoms
• Random cuts from scraps for boro patches. Really…we’re talking random here. All shapes and sizes and be ready to trim them to size as you go.

Step-by-Step: Making your boro & sashiko coasters

1. Step 1: Arrange Your Patches
   Lay out your 5.5″ top squares and start playing with scrap placement. There’s no wrong way to do this so have some fun with it. Overlap them, leave gaps, go wild with color or keep it subdued – boro is about intuition, not rules. Don’t be afraid to explore your creative side here. Take your time and let your scraps tell you where they want to go.
   
2. Step 2: Glue Baste
   Once you’re happy with how your patches look, use your Roxanne glue stick to tack the pieces in place. This temporary hold keeps everything from shifting when you start stitching. Just a little dab will do ya! (Hey that’s catchy!) Just a few strategic dabs will do is all it takes to hold the scraps secure while you stitch. Which brings us to…
   
3. Step 3: Sashiko Time
   Thread your John James Long Darner with Presencia 12wt thread. Traditional sashiko uses a running stitch with a distinctive rhythm. The stitches are typically longer than the spaces between them, creating that signature look. If you aren’t familiar with this style of hand stitching, practice a little on some extra fabric until you feel comfortable enough to dive in. But remember this: This is hand stitching. It’s never going to look like machine stitching. Like our sashiko book title says, it’s that harmonious imperfection that makes boro and sashiko look so amazing.
   
   Once you get going, you can sashiko over the entire piece, creating a grid or pattern that unifies all your patches, or you can stitch just around the edges of each patch to secure them. Both approaches look stunning and we usually make some of each.
   
   To use the traditional method of making sashiko stitches, load multiple stitches onto your needle before pushing it through. This is where the length of the Long Darner comes in handy. Use your Palm Thimble to push the needle through the layers without wearing out your hand then pull the needle the rest of the way through.
   
   Don’t stress about perfection here. Sashiko is meant to be rhythmic and meditative, not measured with a ruler. Stitches that wander a bit? That’s the beauty of hand stitching. Your stitches will become more even the more you stitch but there will still be times when they skew a bit here and there. And that’s okay.
   
4. Step 4: Pin Fronts to Backs
   Once you are finished stitching, place your finished top and the backing square right sides together. Pin or clip around the edges to keep everything aligned.
   
5. Step 5: Sew Around the Edges
   Machine or hand sew around all four edges with a ¼” seam allowance, leaving a 2″ opening in the center of one side for turning. This opening is your escape hatch for getting everything right-side-out. We always mark the two sides of the opening to make sure we don’t accidentally sew it shut. Not that we’d ever do such a thing. Keep a seam ripper handy… just in case.
   
6. Step 6: Trim the Corners
   Clip the corners close to (but not through!) your stitching line. This reduces bulk and helps you get crisp corners when you turn everything right-side-out.
   
7. Step 7: Turn Right Side Out
   Reach through that 2″ opening and pull the coaster right side out. Use a chopstick or turning tool to gently push out the corners so they’re nice and sharp.
   
8. Step 8: Press Flat
   Give everything a good press with your iron. This is the moment your coaster goes from “lumpy fabric sandwich” to “Hey! This actually looks pretty great!” We usually press from the back side of the coaster and lay the face side down on a fluffy towel or wool pressing mat to keep from flattening out the stitches.
   
9. Step 9: Close the Opening
   Use a slip stitch or ladder stitch to hand-sew that turning opening closed. These stitches are nearly invisible when done correctly so just take your time and catch tiny bits of fabric from each side.
   
10. Step 10: Press Again
    One final press and you’re done. Admire your work. Make five more. Hide them from everyone because you want to keep them all. Just us? Maybe make another set to give away.

Tips for Success

Stitch tension matters. Keep your sashiko stitches snug but not tight. You want them to sit on top of the fabric with a little dimension, not pull it into puckers. No puckers!

Embrace imperfection. Boro is literally about making do with what you have. If your patches are wonky or your stitches aren’t uniform, that’s not a mistake. That’s the character of modern boro-style patchwork.

Batch assembly is your friend. Cut all your squares at once, arrange all your patches, then move through the steps assembly-line style. You’ll be surprised how quickly a set of six comes together. Or two sets. Really… you’re going to want to keep one for yourself. Trust us on this.

Save your fingers and hands. Sometimes we get carried away with our layers. What look pretty isn’t always ideal for stitching through. We have stubbornly layered entirely too much heavy or dense fabric before and had to make one stitch at a time. Still fine… but our hands always pay the price the next day.

So there you have it. Small pieces of handmade textile are for you and for friends. Look, we know that handmade gifts walk a fine line. You want them to feel personal and thoughtful, but you also want them to be something people actually use instead of tucking them in a drawer and only pull out when you come over for a visit. Coasters fit squarely into that category. They’re practical, compact, and these boro and sashiko versions are beautiful enough to leave out on the coffee table. Again, they are textile art that start conversations.

Make a set of six for a host gift. Stitch up a batch in someone’s favorite colors. Pair them with a bag of good coffee beans, tea, or a bottle of wine. However you gift them, these coasters carry the message: I made this for you, with my own two hands.

And if you end up keeping them all for yourself? We totally understand. Giving yourself an awesome little gift is definitely encouraged.

Watch and Learn

If you’re in a visual learner mood or want to see some of these steps in action, we’ve created a companion video tutorial that walks through the key points of the process. It’s a helpful reference as you work through the written instructions.

▶️ Watch the video tutorial on YouTube here:

Get Your Supplies

Ready to turn your scraps into something special?

🧵 Shop Presencia threads here
🪡 Shop John James needles here
📄 Download the project handout below

For more sashiko, visit our website at shannonandjason.com and be sure to check out our workshop and our latest book, Stitching Sashiko.

Now gather those scraps, thread that needle, and start stitching. Your coffee table, and anyone luck enough to receive these, will thank you.

STITCH ON!!

S&J

Summer’s here, and that means patio lounging, iced coffee sipping, and—if you’re anything like us—crafting dangerously close to a family of squirrels who seem suspiciously interested in your fabric scraps. While the birds bathe and the squirrels plot, we’re hard at work on a little sashiko, or mending, and especially English Paper Piecing (EPP), the ultimate hand-sewing adventure.

If you’ve ever fantasized about creating gorgeous quilts, snuggly throws, charming baby blankets, mending patches, or pillows so cute they might just cause a nap emergency, EPP is your ticket.

No sewing experience? No problem! All you need are some vibrant fabric bits, pre-cut paper templates, and a whipstitch (it’s easier than convincing a squirrel to pay rent). Before long, you’ll have masterpiece patches ready for quilt blocks, home décor, or even jazzing up a plain t-shirt or boring jeans.

Warning: admiration from friends and random passersby may increase.

The real beauty of English Paper Piecing? It’s more portable than a picnic basket. You can take it anywhere, from the patio to the pool, or even the backseat of a road trip car—no stitching while driving, please. Fabric de-stashing is highly encouraged; your creative soul will thank you.

Colonial Needle Company stocks the goods to keep your EPP game strong. Roxanne glue sticks are essential for our outdoor sewing kits—Shannon swears by the John James Signature Collection Milliner needles; the subtle flexibility gives them the maneuverability to create those nearly invisible stitches.  Meanwhile, Jason is loyal to the Signature Collection Sharps in size #7 or #8 for applique, claiming they deliver smoother results than his signature iced latte. We suggest trying both—needle drama is half the fun.

So, step out your back door, settle into the shade with your beverage of choice (and your SPF), and let your creativity run wild. Who knows? You may end up with a quilt, a collection of squirrel fans, and a whole new appreciation for the joys of portable crafting this summer!

Stitch On!

Shannon & Jason

Our accompanying YouTube tutorial can be found here: