“Every stitch carries a story outside of me — between Japan and Oregon, past and present, teacher and student.”
Parallel Threads is a space where sashiko is shared with respect, care, and connection. Rooted in Japan and reaching across the Pacific Northwest, it is both a practice and a philosophy — one that honors history, resilience, and the beauty of stitches repeated by hand.
Sashiko is more than pattern or decoration. It carries stories, daily life, and generations of quiet ingenuity. At Parallel Threads, we work to create an access point for learning that acknowledges this depth while inviting new hands and hearts to join.
Why Parallel Threads?
The name reflects the path of two coastlines — Japan and Oregon — distinct yet moving side by side. Like stitches running parallel across cloth, our work is about bridging rather than blending, and about building connection through practice.
Meet Katie Brower-Wojda
As a lifelong learner, I’ve always moved between the roles of student and teacher. In my adult life, that often looked like teaching or training in one form or another.
I started my professional career as a middle school English teacher. During those years, I learned that the most meaningful lessons weren’t about the final product or measurable results. My most cherished memories came from building connection with my students, staying curious through the learning process, and making space for exploration, mistakes, and growth along the way. That same spirit for learning eventually led me out of the classroom and into the world of textiles.
Quilting was my first textile teacher. It introduced me to the landscape of fabric, precision, and careful planning. I learned how much intention goes into every decision and how structure can create something beautiful. However, quilting’s rigidity left little room for creative liberty. There are very few desirable “happy little accidents” in quilting, and I found myself longing for a practice that would let me experiment, adapt, and respond in the moment. I wanted a way of creating that could hold both discipline and freedom.
That search led me to sashiko. Its emphasis on repetition, rhythm, and handwork offered the structure I craved, while still leaving space for personal expression. Over time, my practice has become a conversation between structure and intuition, tradition and experimentation. Some days, I follow patterns closely. Other days, I let the work evolve as I go.
Parallel Threads grew from this balance. It’s a space rooted in learning, making, and connection, where process matters as much as outcome. I hope to offer practices that feel grounding when you need steadiness, and expansive when you’re ready to explore. This work isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, staying curious, and allowing creativity to unfold at its own pace.
My relationship to sashiko is rooted in deep respect for the craft and for the Japanese people who have sustained it. I am a lifelong student. I am learning the Japanese language, and I have traveled to Japan multiple times to study sashiko directly with teachers across the country, including in Kyoto, Takayama, Tokyo, Osaka, and Otsuchi. I have been welcomed by and learned alongside Japanese teachers and students, and my work has been received with encouragement and care.
Learn More:
SASHIKO CIRCLE
Sashiko Circle - Monthly Features:
Online Zoom Class
Monthly Meetup
Private Lesson
Bonus Features:
Archived Content Library
Unboxing/Product Review Videos
Early Access to In-Person Workshops/Classes
Coupon @ SASHIKO SHOP
Let’s Stay in Touch…
Whether you’re curious about sashiko, interested in a Sashiko Club, want to chat more about Japan or Japanese, or simply want to say hello, I’d love to hear from you.
Threads Waiting for You
From the Oregon coast to Japan’s shores, every stitch reminds us that connection is possible — across oceans, across generations, across hands. Wherever you enter, you are part of the story.