As I got out my winter coat for the first time I remembered that a button had come off last spring. When I was in school many years ago we had a class called “Home Economics” and both boys and girls took it (as well as shop class). In that class I was taught the basics of sewing among other home skills. The class was easy for me because much of it I had already been taught by my mother. Now I’m not claiming to be able to make an article of clothing from a bolt of fabric but I did turn out a respectable apron made out of denim that I used, ironically, in shop class.
Getting back to replacing the button on my coat, while I have the skills to replace a button, I also have the tools needed to do so AKA a basic sewing kit. Admittedly it was a wedding gift but today I got thinking of all the times over the last 26 years of marriage a minor repair of some article of clothing had to be done and we always go back to this little box of sewing supplies. Further this is just something that I assumed everyone had because growing up everyone I knew had something similar. However in thinking back over the last 10 years or so I know there are many of my younger friends that do not have a basic sewing kit that can be used to make such repairs. I don’t know if they just buy new clothes, live with the problem or take it to somebody but it is such a simple skill that people don’t even think of anymore.
For only a few dollars you can a pick up a pack of needles, some spools of thread and a pair of scissors and you can make your own kit. Or for about $25 you can get this kit from Amazon. You should also consider it as a gift for young ones in your life as they come of age. You might want to consider it in addition to a cooler gift, unless you want to be known as an un-cool, no fun, old person.
