Cut, Uncheck and Save Your Pimples: How to Create an At-Home Repair Kit

I have a vague memory of my mother keeping an emergency sewing kit in the glove compartment of her car. When I asked one of my brothers if he could remember the little plastic set, with its loose wires and tiny scissors, he confessed he was wearing one now too. In fact, he told me that last week he used it to sew on a button while he and his girlfriend were traveling from Munich to Norway. (He's always been irritatingly pragmatic, but it turns out she sewed on the button).

While the sewing kit isn't -being more of a universal household item, the recent rise in thrift -rolling and easy access to online tutorials means the art of repair is enjoying a revival.

In honor of this, and as an antidote to the sale season, we asked the experts for advice on how to build an at-home repair kit.

Start with quality

Since the sewing and mending process is easier when things are precise, Rel Vild, owner of Loom Fabrics recommends investing in quality tools early on. "[They] will make you enjoy the process far more than struggling with shoddy scissors and thread."

Go to a specialty retailer or haberdashery store - not in the supermarket. "Your thread won't tangle and your edges will be cut cleanly so you get the best result," she says. -spacefinder-role="inline" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement" class="dcr-173mewl">

Used items are worth considering when buying your tools. "I think some of the best sewing notions are now considered vintage," says Holly Simpson, owner of Hot Dog Workshop repair service. "I often look for used gear, anything fantastic pre-plastic. There are so many things from our past that are beautifully made and still do their job perfectly, so why buy new?"Keep your scissors sharp

The best base for your kit is "a good quality pair of tailor's scissors," says Simpson.

Only use these scissors for cutting fabric. If you use them for cutting other things like paper, cardboard, or crafts, the scissors will dull quickly and won't work as well for the fabric.