Category Archives: General Stitching

Presencia Corner Bookmarks

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September is here, which means the light shifts, the air cools (a little), and suddenly every book on the shelf starts whispering, *pick me up*. For makers, there’s a special magic in pairing fabric and thread with the quiet rhythm of turning pages. That’s where this month’s project comes in: the fabric corner bookmark.

It’s quick, it’s clever, and it’s stitched with Presencia thread — so it’s not just any bookmark, it’s a handmade one that will stay strong through chapter after chapter. Think of it as a tiny quilt block that holds your place between paragraphs.

The beauty of this project is how well it speaks to two parts of our community:

  1. The makers – You already have fabric scraps begging for a purpose and Presencia 40 wt and 12 wt ready to shine.
  2. The readers – Every book lover you know (including you!) could use a few of these tucked into novels, cookbooks, or pattern books.

They’re small enough to batch-make, personal enough to feel like a gift, and durable enough to actually be used. Which makes them just about perfect, right?

And here’s the twist we didn’t see coming until we tried it ourselves: these little bookmarks moonlight as coasters. Slip it off your book page, set it under your coffee mug or tea cup, and you’ve got a soft landing spot for your drink while you read. From page corner to tabletop — multifunctional stitching at its finest.

Presencia’s 40 wt Sewing Thread gives your machine-stitched edges that neat, polished look, while the chunkier 12 wt Perle Cotton brings personality when you hand-embroider a design or initial. However you finish them, they’re proof that thread isn’t just what holds projects together — it’s what makes them shine.

So gather your scraps, grab your Presencia, and make a little stack of bookmarks for yourself and your fellow book lovers. After all, stories are better when they’re shared — and so are stitches.

📄 Download the project handout below.
▶️ Watch the full tutorial on YouTube here.
🧵 Shop all Presencia threads here.

Corner Bookmark handoutDownload

EPP: Take It with You!

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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:

A Step-by-Step Guide to Stitching Kogin-zashi Through Evenweave Fabric onto Garments

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Got a shirt that’s seen better days (and maybe one too many spaghetti dinners)? Give it a new lease on life—just grab some Colonial Persian Wool yarn and a small piece of evenweave fabric for an embroidery makeover that screams creativity louder than any stain. With this easy project, your favorite shirt, skirt, or pants will be rocking sashiko-inspired style and a fresh story to tell.

The Canvas: Selecting and Preparing Evenweave Fabric

Evenweave fabric is just that… even. The warp and weft threads are evenly spaced, setting you up for precise, symmetrical stitching. Common types— Davosa, Lugana, Aida, Hardinger, ect—come in various thread counts. For this project we recommend a 16–18 count evenweave; it’s just the right size to stitch up crisp geometric patterns. Don’t go out and buy the most expensive you can find… it does not end up in the final product. This is a great way to use up small leftover pieces of evenweave!

Threads and Tools

  • Thread: Traditional kogin-zashi is all about thick cotton threads and floss, but hey, the modern crafter lives for something new—so we decided to give Colonial Persian Wool a shot. Wowzah, were we impressed with the results! It’s toothy and stands out beautifully in the final shirt!
  • Needle: Kogin needles tend to be longer and sturdier than a regular embroidery needle, suitable for thick threads and weaving through heavier fabric. We really like Colonial Needle’s Short Bullion Needles with Tapestry tips for this.
  • Thimble: Colonial Needle’s Palm Thimble is the perfect tool for pushing the needle through both layers of fabric with ease.
  • Hoop: Embroidery hoops were not traditionally used in kogin stitching but are essential for this type of surface embroidery/visible mending. You’ll need a hoop at least 3’’ in diameter for a single motif or larger depending on the size of the spot you’re covering. Don’t worry… Colonial Needle Company has so many types and sizes of hoops, you’ll find what you need.

Modoko

We have provided a simple kogin motif (called a modoko) for you to use below. For more examples of modoko (both small and complex) check out our book Contemporary Kogin-zashi.

Kogin Modoko for CNCDownload

How To Stitch Kogin-zashi:

  1. Center the evenweave fabric on the stain on the right side of the shirt. Next, place the embroidery hoop over both the shirt fabric and the evenweave.
  2. Thread your needle. For this weight of fabric, we thread our needle with 2 strands of Colonial Persian Wool. You might prefer to use more or less depending on how dense or how puffy you like your stitches. Practice the motif of scrap fabric at least once to decide what you best like.
  3. Mark the center of the evenweave fabric to ensure your motif will be centered over the spot.
  4. Count over the number of threads from the center of the fabric to the left or right side of the center line of the motif. Then, working from the back, bring the needle up through both the shirt and evenweave fabric. Be careful to bring your needle up through up through the open holes of the evenweave fabric to prevent splitting the threads. Leave a small tail on the back for weaving in later.
  5. Work all the stitches in one row then turn your work and follow the next row of the pattern. Continue until you reach the top of the motif. Once the first half is complete return to the center row and work the second half in the opposite direction.First half of kogin-zashi design
  6. Continue working row by row until the motif is complete. Secure thread ends neatly on the back.
  7. After creating the motif and weaving in the ends of your yarn cut the excess evenweave fabric away then carefully remove the remaining evenweave by pulling strands of the fabric out one at a time. Once you are done removing the evenweave you will have a kogin motif sewn directly to your garment.
    pulling threads once motif is stitched

Kogin-zashi patterns are worked in horizontal rows, with stitches typically spanning an odd number of threads.  The signature of kogin-zashi is its counting method: stitches pass over and under one, three, five, or seven threads. It’s a simple matter of reading each row of the chart and stitching what you see on it. Each horizontal row of stitches sets snuggly against the neighboring rows to build the solid motif.

Tips for successful stitching:

  • Maintain even tension; stitches should lie flat but not pucker the fabric.
  • Count threads carefully—precision is crucial for the pattern’s symmetry.
  • Pay attention to the pattern’s overall flow and alignment, especially if stitching a repeating band or motif.
  • Use shorter lengths of thread to minimize fraying and tangling.

You can use this same technique using cross stitch patterns and simple embroidery stitches. The evenweave fabric ensures your stitches are straight and the same size every time!

Caring for Your Kogin-Zashi Embellished Garment

Because Colonial Persian Wool is virgin wool, we recommend hand washing with a no-rinse soap and drying flat.

Weaving Old and New

Bringing kogin-zashi to your wardrobe is more than embellishing fabric; it’s about honoring a legacy of ingenuity, patience, and artistry. Whether you stitch for mindfulness, fashion, or the thrill of learning, using kogin-zashi for visible mending a garment offers a tangible connection to history and a canvas for your own story.

So, gather your threads, choose a garment, and stitch a little piece of the Tsugaru spirit into every wear. Each pattern, every careful row, is a celebration not only of the past but of the creative present—one stitch at a time.

Stitch On!

Shannon & Jason

Find Your Sanity (and Your Needle): The DIY Project Pouch

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Odds are, if you’re reading this, you’re some kind of crafter—embroiderer, cross-stitcher, sewist, or a proud member of the multiple-projects-in-progress club. And let’s be honest, while tote bags are great for carrying project, books, and patterns, they’re like the Bermuda Triangle—things just disappear and we end up digging around and invariably find that one loose sashiko needle. You know…

Enter project pouches: These handy, customizable companions keep your tools, materials, and sanity intact. And seriously, who doesn’t love a good pouch with a zipper and a clear window to show off that chaos we call creativity? Sadly, the perfect pouch is as hard to find as your favorite thimble in a couch cushion. So, we decided to make our own!

Armed with Colonial Needle Company supplies, leftover fabric, a stray zipper, and a quick trip to the second-hand art store (a.k.a. crafter’s paradise), voilà! The Windowed Project Pouch with Zipper was born—stylish, secure, and ready to save your supplies from tote bag purgatory. We designed our pouch to keep books and individual patterns safe while still being able to see which book and which pattern are in there. This way, we can chuck it in that tote bag we mentioned earlier and it won’t get all ripped up, bumped, and mashed.

We’re sharing a free pattern and a full video walk through on the Colonial Needle Blog so you can dive in and make your own. The video includes a FAB technique for setting in the zipper as well as how to add a window to just about any bag you make. T rust us, after your first pouch, you’ll be hooked. By the second, you’ll be customizing sizes and making mini versions for makeup or snacks—or let’s be real, more craft supplies. So far, we have used the fabric leftovers to make two other smaller pouches that are being used for carrying such things securely in our totes and other bags. There’s more of those on our website if you are interested in following us down that rabbit hole.

Be sure to tag Colonial Needle Company in your makes so we can brag on you all… we like doing that.

Happy crafting, and may your pouches always be findable and full (of the right stuff)!

Downloadable Pattern:

Zippered Project Bag with Window 2025Download

Stayin’ Sharp!

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There are a vast array of reasons to love rotary cutters. From the easy speed they provide, to the clean edge of the cuts they make, to that smooth slicing sound they make when elegantly gliding through a stack of cotton…yea, that sound… rotary cutters are a crafters best friend. But what if your best friend is no longer fast, clean, or smooth. It’s time for a little intervention.

Just like dull knives in the kitchen, dull tools in your sewing room are a recipe for frustration and accidents. A blunt blade can mean skips, and ragged edges which can result in thread snags and pulls and having to take the time to go back and snip those threads and missed cuts when all we really want to do is sew. In addition, when the blade is dull, we usually compensate by applying more pressure which can lead to hand, wrist, and shoulder pain or injury. And none of us has time for that! The solution? Either out swap the blade (in this economy?!?) or give it a spa day and sharpen it. Yeah. That second one.

While we do keep a stash of spare blades “just in case,” there’s an easy, budget-friendly option: Colonial’s Rotary Blade Sharpener. This magical little tool is like a fairy godparent for your rotary blades—no wand required. Carefully remove your blade, pop it into the sharpener, and give it a few gentle twists. Voilà! The dual grit sides work together to turn back the clock on your blade’s dull days, leaving it sharper, shinier, and ready for action.

The result? Your blades work better, live longer, and stop making you question your crafting life choices. Give it a whirl—you’ll thank yourself, and so will your fabric.

As always, Stitch On!

Shannon & Jason

Glue Basting with Roxanne Glue

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One more product we can’t seem to live without!

Greetings makers, crafters, and creators! Today, we’re diving into another group of Colonial Needle Company products to cover a sticky subject: glue. Specifically, glue basting with the Roxanne Baste-It family of glue.

Glue basting is a technique where you apply a thin line of water-soluble glue along the seam allowance or cut edges of fabric pieces to hold them in place before sewing. This allows for precise piecing, perfect points, and smooth curves. It is especially useful for boro, finishing quilts, and a manner of appliqué – completely removing the need for pins.

How to use Roxanne Basting Glue in Four Easy Steps:

  1. Simply apply a fine line of glue
  2. Line up the fabric pieces
  3. Press with a hot iron to set (this step is not always required–as you will see in our video)
  4. Then sew as usual.

Key points about glue basting:

  • Application:
    Roxanne Baste-It comes in a wide variety of container sizes and shapes to suit any purpose. From the spreadable 2-Way applicator to small pipettes and dab on applicators. And the Roxanne Glue Stick glides on smoooooooooth as silk without gumming up your fabric and needles. You choose which glue is best for your project and where to place it.
  • Heat setting:
    Although not required, a hot dry iron can be used to quickly set the glue and further ensure there is no shifting once the placement decisions have been made. Once set, you can easily sew without worrying about shifting seams or fabrics, even when rough handling of the fabric such as for hand quilting, sashiko, and boro.
  • Portability:
    Baste-It products come in easy to store and access sizes. You can take your handwork projects with you whether you’re traveling across the city or just to your sofa for the evening
  • Basting Glue Benefits:
    Say good-by to pins! Baste-It glues reduce the need for pins and clips, making sewing faster and smoother. Especially hand sewing. No fussing to work around pins and no stuck fingers!

Improves accuracy and precision in piecing, especially for points and curves.

Especially well-suited for appliqué, where you need precise placement of fabric edges.

The Roxanne Glue Stick is our go-to for placing boro patches and visible mending patches prior to sewing down. Watch the boro section of our video for how we create boro inspired fabrics as well as some examples of our work.

Baste-It Glue won’t leave a mark on your delicate creations. All of the Roxanne glues are non-staining and wash away completely with ease!

How we use glue basting for different techniques:

  • Boro and Visible Mending:
    Boro Stitching
    Apply a thin layer of glue to the patch and adhere to base fabric, adjusting your placement as necessary. Then stitch down. We love the Roxanne Glue Stick because it glides on smoothly and the patches stay where we place them…until we decide we want them someplace else. Or… someplace else again. But then they stay put!
  • Quilt Binding and Bias Tape: After sewing on your binding to one side of the quilt, fold the fabric over the edge and apply a layer of glue. Press with a hot, dry iron to set, then hand stitch or machine sew the remaining seam down. No clips or pins needed; you don’t have to worry about that binding shifting. Our video features a no worries technique for making fabric tape with Roxanne Basting Glue.
  • Curved seams: Apply a thin line of glue along the curved edge, carefully folding and shaping the fabric edge.
  • Appliqué: Glue the edges of your appliqué piece to the base fabric, ensuring smooth edges and precise placement. Then use your favorite visible or invisible appliqué stitch for attaching. Be sure to watch the video for our tip for sharp corners on those appliqué pieces.

That’s all for now! Let us know if you want a recommendation for which glue is best for your project or share your favorites with us. And remember to check back for more about our fav products from Colonial Needle Company as well as projects and tutorials that show how we use this all-encompassing line of products in our studio.

Keep up with the Colonial Needle Company on their social media channels and YouTube.

You can find us at shannonandjason.com and on our Instagram and Facebook pages we are @embracethecreativechaos.

Which CNC products do YOU have questions about? Let us know and we might just feature your question in a future video or post.

Until then…STITCH ON!!

Shannon & Jason