Needles and Thread

Eye: Choose a needle with an eye that is big enough for your thread to pass through easily.

Shaft: The shaft has a length and a width. The larger the width, the larger a hole it will make when it pierces the fabric. When choosing a needle, go with the smallest width that still allows the thread to pass through the eye. A longer needle will hold more fabric and allow you to do multiple stitches at a time while a shorter needle is easier to maneuver when doing complex stitches.

Point: Hand sewing needles have either a sharp point or a ballpoint. As a general rule, sharp points are better for piercing through wovens and tight knits and ballpoints (which are dull to the touch) are better for loose knits because they can push aside individual loops to move through the fabric.

When choosing the right thread for your project, the major factor is how close the completed repair is intended to look to the original item.

• If you prefer the least visible repair, choose the thread that was used in the original item. For most woven garments, this would be sewing machine thread which is typically a fine polyester. And for knits, it would be yarn of the same fiber content and weight. If the exact thread color isn’t available, choose the option that is slightly darker
• If you are excited about a contrast or embellishment repair, choose a different color machine thread, a yarn, or embroidery floss, which is a heavier cotton thread

Cut a length of thread or yarn no longer than 24" (~61cm) or for easy measuring, the length of your arm. Any longer than this and the thread will be too prone to tangling as you sew. If you run out of thread as you're stitching, tie off and start a new length. We promise this is less frustrating than a tangled thread!

There are two basic ways to tie a knot at the end of your thread:

1. Overhand knot on one end of the thread. Good for general use.

2. Overhand knot connecting both ends of the thread. Good when thickness is needed (sewing buttons) but more prone to tangling.