One of the best gifts I’ve ever received was something I got given many years ago on my 19th birthday. I’ve treasured it ever since and it’s still as functional today as it was then, all those years ago.
A close friend surprised me with a gorgeous sewing kit!
Now I know what image you’re conjuring up… Pioneer Thinking suggests, “Most people who hear the words “sewing kit” think of those little travel sewing kits you can buy for less than $10 at a discount or drug store.” Was I right?
Don’t get put off by that dull idea of a sewing kit! My sewing kit gift was so much more than that! My friend had lovingly put together a small wicker hamper basket filled with hand selected sewing kit essentials and it was beautiful, functional and inspiring!
A Sewing Kit Can Be Functional and More!
As a young woman venturing out into the world alone my sewing kit was a really useful gift to have. Household Management 101 explains that “Every home needs to have a basic sewing kit in it, which contains basic sewing supplies, to deal with the routine stuff like sewing on buttons, sewing hems and other simple tasks regarding mending clothes.” This kit certainly did all of that but it turned out to be so much more too.
My sewing kit set me off adventuring into a world of crafty exploration and experimentation that I instantly fell in love with and have continued with ever since. It opened up a world of creative hobbies I’d never tried before and eventually led me to where I am today with my working life revolving around arts, crafts and creativity. All of that from one little sewing kit!
Sewing Kit Essentials
If you are thinking of putting together a sewing kit for yourself or as a gift Haberdashery UK suppliers will stock pretty much everything you could ever wish for. I’d recommend starting out with a basic kit and then adding to it bit by bit as you need to for each new project.
There are so many free online tutorials available now it’s easy to learn to make anything! Over the years I’ve thoroughly enjoyed adding to my sewing kit and studying to develop my skills. I’ve been known to sew clothes for my children and myself, make cushions and curtains and I’ve even made sofa covers too. Things my 19 year old self never dreamt I’d be able to do!
Here’s my list of sewing kit essentials to get you started on your own creative textile journey:
- Needles
A selection of needles is vital. When hand sewing you should have a needle that is the right size for the fabric, and if you are using a sewing machine, having spare needles is a good idea because they can break. - Thread
You’ll want to buy thread to match the fabric you ‘re using in your individual projects, but it’s a good idea to start a basic collection with common colours like white, black, navy, red, green, yellow and translucent for basic repairs. If you’re anything like me you’re soon be seen “Ohhing” and “Ahhing” over all the beautiful colours available. - A Needle Threading Tool
This can be a huge help especially if you’ve got kids learning to sew. Basically it’s a diamond shaped flexible wire which you push through the eye of the needle, insert your thread and effortlessly pull back through. No more licking the thread and squinting trying to get the thread through the eye of the needle. - Pins
Pins are essential for holding material in place while sewing. - Pin Cushion
These come in all sorts of pretty designs and you could even sew your own as a first textile project! It’s great for allowing your pins to be on hand while you’re working and you’re less likely to get pricked. - Tape Measure or Measuring Gauge
There’s often quite a lot of measuring to do at the start of a project and these tools will make it easier and help you get the most out of your fabrics. - Quality Scissors
Two types of scissors are really handy; fabric scissors and pinking shears. Fabric scissors will cut through fabric easily and cleanly and pinking shears make a zigzag cut in fabric which helps prevent fraying. A top tip is to NEVER use your sewing kit scissors for cutting anything but fabric because it will blunt them and make cutting fabric really hard work. - Seam Unpicking Tool
I’m afraid mistakes will happen sometimes especially when you’re first starting out and this is a really handy tool to remove the stitches easily without ripping the fabric. - Buttons and Fasteners
Buttons, hooks and eyes, zips and other fasteners are useful to have in your kit for quick repairs and to add to projects. Warning…button addiction is highly likely! Believe me, there are so many cute buttons out there you’ll find irresistible! - Press Cloth
This is just an old piece of fabric you use between your iron and your project to create a protective barrier during pressing. This is especially handy if you’re working with delicate fabrics. - Thimble
Ouch! Needles are sharp and this simple tool will protect your fingers from the needle points and you can use it to push needles through thick fabric like denim too. - Fabric Chalk
This is useful for marking the fabric where you need to cut, pin or sew. It brushes and washes out so it doesn’t ruin your project.
I hope you have fun putting together your own sewing kit. I’d recommend starting out with these basic staples and investing in quality products, as Linda Reynolds from Craftsy explains: “The good stuff, plain and simple, will perform much better than the cheap stuff. And, if you take care of your supplies they will last you forever.” I’ve had my sewing kit for over 20 years and my quality items are still going strong!
Building up and adding to your sewing kit over time can become a real delight as there are so many beautiful fabrics and trimmings to indulge in. There are loads of stores to shop from and haberdashery online is a great starting point.
My final parting tip is to invest in a nice basket or box to keep your collection in. It’s always handy to have everything together when you need it and seeing all those beautiful supplies in one place is sure to inspire you to get crafting new and exciting projects regularly and for many, many years to come.
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