Patching Jeans with Sashiko-Look Stitches – a mock-sashiko technique

Use a basic hemstitch with a Cordonnet foot to create a mock sashiko stitch and patch a pair of denim jeans. While playing around with the decorative stitches on her BERNINA, Maelynn wondered if she could create a stitch that mimicked Japanese sashiko stitching — both for the look and for the durable patching it’s known for. After testing multiple stitches and techniques, she found a combination that looks neat, is structurally strong, and wears well. The post walks through the full setup and the patching application on a worn knee.

Sashiko-look stitching turns a hole in your favorite jeans into a feature you actually want people to see — visible mending is back, and a regular sewing machine can absolutely do it.
— Mayra

What you’ll want on hand

• Sashiko thread (sashiko #8 cotton, white) — thick enough to read as visible mending even by machine
• Iron-on denim patches (assorted blues) — underlayer for added strength on worn knees
• Schmetz jeans needle size 90/14 — punches through worn denim cleanly

Get the full tutorial at WeAllSew →

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