Sewing Kit

Purpose: To provide the individual the means to maintain and repair clothing, tenting and other equipment during field or emergency conditions.

Needles:

1 ea Large strait canvas mending needle with large eye loop. The needle must be long and strong enough to go through at least 4 layers or heavy denim, trigger cloth or sailing canvas. This is needed to repair packs, sleeping bags, tents, and heavy clothing.

1 ea Large curved canvas sewing needle with large eye loop. This needle makes repairs on some equipment much easier as the curve helps guide the needle on the right course through multiple layers of heavy cloth. Not an essential item, but one that is highly suggested and will save lots of time and effort.

5 each medium sized sewing needles. These needles are for general repair on lighter weight clothing and gear. They are best used with standard weight threads.

1 ea Spool heavy cotton thread.

1 ea Spool small of normal cotton thread.

1 ea Spool waxed dental floss for special repairs.

1 ea Spool light fishing line (approx 10 pound test)

1 ea Spool Kevlar thread. This thread will repair items that need to resist a high amount of pressure and stress. Kevlar for it's weight is as strong as steel and for making repairs on areas that are high stress or required to hold lots of weight is the best thing I have found to use.

1 ea Thimble, stainless steel

1 ea needle threader for those of us with fading eye site.

1 ea Small block of bees wax to use on needles to make them pass through heavy cloth easier.

1 ea package of assorted buttons

1 ea Small butane lighter

1 ea Small pair of folding scissors

1 ea Dress makers marker to make marking off cloth easier.

5 ea assorted safety pins

If it's not already in your BOB/First Aid Kit, monofilament makes a great emergency repair and suture thread.

Semper Veritas

I just use a sewing awl and mono fishline, for everything. If it aint that stout, and need that much, it aint in my BOB.

a small pair of pliers will aid in pulling the needle through heavy cloth

A good thread to use are the inner strands from 550 cord.

When joining the Navy, I was issued with a "housewife" - a roll-up type pouch containing needles, thread, buttons, etc. I added a small pair of scissors and a few other items, and carried it in my kit even after I left the service. The original is long gone, but I still carry one in my BOB.
I also carry a shoe/boot cleaning kit - not so much as for the appearance of my outfit, but more to keep my footwear in good condition.

Yep in the Canadian army they also issue a "Housewife"

Mine is the second one from the bottom.

http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/equipme ... sewing.htm

1 ea Small block of bees wax to use on needles to make them pass through heavy cloth easier.

Wulf, I haven't heard anyone mention this in years.
I still have my original bees wax back when I went to home ec in high school.

LOl Rubies, I am old, I know the old stuff and why people did it, cause it worked. :)