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Everyday Style

Basic Sewing Kit Essentials

Thread and sewing needle

What you need to make quick repairs.

  • Needles in an assortment of sizes
  • Thread (stock at least a black, a gray, a cream, and a denim-stitch gold)
  • Needle threader, so you won’t need to squint as you thread the needle
  • Safety pins: hefty steel ones for big jobs and small brass ones to close littler gaps
  • Buttons in a mix of styles: small white shirt buttons; large, dark ones for coats; and medium-size trouser buttons
  • Hem tape for needle-free repairs
  • Velcro (patches or strips with adhesive for temporary fixes; iron- or sew-on styles for more lasting fastening)
  • Patches (to save torn jeans and trousers instantly)
  • Scissors
  • Thimble, a must not just to protect thumbs but also to help you force a needle or a pin through heavy fabric
  • Pincushion
  • Tape measure
  • Seam ripper, for do-overs when you need to remove errant stitches
  • Snap pliers, to help replace snaps or grommets

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Save money and learn how to do it yourself, from beauty treatments (how to trim your bangs) to small home improvement fixes (how to replace a doorknob).

Did we forget anything on this checklist? What would you add?

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