The items you need to start a sewing kit

A few sewing basics can go a long way toward preserving your wardrobe. The following items are must-haves for any home sewing kit.

Small, portable mending kits are available at any sewing or store. They're ideal for carrying in a purse, briefcase or suitcase when travelling, and keep the supplies you need on-hand for a quicker, easier mending job.

Start with a small plastic container, a metal tin with a lid or a waterproof zip-up packet. Then fill it with the following:

• Various coloured threads
• Needles of varying sizes
• Dedicated sewing scissors
• Straight pins
• Pincushion
• Marking chalk
• Patching material
• Tape measure
• Fusible webbing or double-faced mending tape
• Needle threader

• For any mending job, you should always use thread a shade darker than the material you're repairing.
• If you have a lot of polyester clothing, choose polyester thread over cotton, and vice versa.
• For general purposes, always have a medium-weight cotton-wrapped polyester thread on hand.

• Good needles for basic hand-sewing are called sharps. Get a package of assorted sizes so you can deal with light or heavy fabrics.
• Straight pins with round heads work best for most quick mending jobs. Keep them in a small pincushion for easy access.
• A pair of sharp scissors is a must for clipping thread or cutting fabric neatly.
• Marking chalk, which washes off, is used for measuring hems.
• While a flexible measuring tape works well for a travel kit, a metres rule (yardstick) works better for marking up hems and measuring accurately from the floor.
• For emergency hem fixes, fusible webbing or double-faced mending tape is a no-sew way to pick up a hem in a hurry.

Don't let loose buttons or an unhitched hem mar the look of your clothes. If you want to keep your wardrobe in top condition, knowing how to use a needle and thread could save you money and make any quick fixes a stress-free venture.