Even if you aren’t a champ at sewing, every house should have a sewing box. Everyone gets fallen hems, popped buttons, and busted straps. However, those malfunctions usually occur at the worst possible time. Here’s the bare bones for a great basic sewing kit that will help you out of any pinch.
Nice fabric can only go so far if you ruin your edges by butchering them with dull scissors. You don’t have to spend a fortune on them but they should be razor sharp, feel comfortable in your hand, and have the ability to be professionally sharpened. If they for all of these requirements, you can use the same pair for sewing for as long as you are inclined to thread a needle. And remember: cutting paper or cardboard with your fabric scissors will be the death of them!
Thread
In order to pick out what kind of thread you need for a basics box, it is first important to understand a little bit about the different kinds. If you are starting out, investing in a few colors of polyester thread would your best option because it is incredibly strong. With that being said, picking up a polyester multi-pack with lots of colors is the way to go! In addition to that purchase, picking up a big spool of black and white is an excellent idea as well. You will use those two colors more than any other that you might have in your arsenal.
With thread comes needles! You can find most of what you need on our website. Any other specialized needle that you might want can be found in craft stores. To that end, you should look for a few sizes of sharps, embroidery needles, and heavy duty needles. Getting a multi-pack and buying in bulk is the way to go. That way if you are doing two projects at the same time and a lot of your needles are already tied up, you still have plenty of back up to complete the second project that you are working on.
Safety pins
Some people think of safety pins as the territory of people who don’t sew. That is totally and completely untrue. Safety pins are the perfect fix-in-a-pinch for everyone including people with a great deal of sewing experience who need a fast simple fix. After all, who is bringing a sewing machine with them to every party they go to just waiting for the strap on their dress to break? The answer to that is a resounding no one! Carrying three or four extra little safety pins is much more conducive to a little clutch than a Singer.
Buttons
A popped button is one of the most common wardrobe issues. It’s an easy fix as long as you have the right button. As a basis for your box, you should start by investing in a multi-pack of buttons in different colors, shapes and sizes. This can be found at any crafts store and even some cool thrifty specialty stores. I knew seamstresses who started button collections because of all of the beautiful decorative bits they were finding! But I digress, make sure you also keep the extra buttons from new garments tucked away in your box as well. You never know when one of those little guys will come in handy!
If someone had an unlimited supply of duct tape and velcro I am fairly curtain they could rule the world. With that in mind, having a little bit of velcro in your sewing box is a must. Buy both sew on and stick on even if you don’t think you will ever need it. Trust me when I tell you, just as you forget you have them you will find that you need them for something important and recall that you purchased some for just such and occasion. Won’t it be lovely to be able to pat yourself on the back for your foresight!?
As you accumulate more tools and materials your sewing box will begin to expand with your interests. Yellow thread is a must-have for hemming jeans (awesome if you’re short like me) and a seam ripper is essential if you find yourself sewing in earnest. Don’t be afraid to grab something next time you’re at the fabric store if it looks cool. Trust me, you’ll find a way to use it!
