13 Things Moms Kept in Their Sewing Kits That Had Nothing to Do with Sewing
Every mother possessed one: that reliable needlework kit, seemingly dedicated to mending trousers or reattaching buttons, yet revealing a trove of curiosities upon inspection: a toolbox, first-aid station, snack reserve, and vortex for misplaced household odds and ends.
Nestled among thimbles and thread spools resided an eclectic array of items with no logical place there, yet perfectly sensible to her. This kit masqueraded as the household’s original catch-all, and woe betide anyone disrupting its “order.”
Join us on a nostalgic journey to uncover the peculiar, yet surprisingly practical, treasures mothers concealed within these enigmatic kits.
1. Safety Pins by the Dozen (and None Matched)
Sure, these could technically count as sewing-related, but most were bent, mismatched, or stolen from diaper bags in the ’70s.
They were the go-to fix for everything from broken bra straps to securing Halloween costumes last-minute. And yet, somehow, you never found one when you actually needed it.
2. Old Coupons That Expired in 1984
There was always a little paper envelope stuffed with yellowing coupons, some dating back to Reagan-era grocery stores. Were they ever used? Probably not.
But Mom swore they were “just in case,” even though half of the products didn’t exist anymore.
3. Rusty Bobby Pins from Who-Knows-When
These little guys had lost their tension years ago, but they were still considered vital. Some were twisted out of shape, others had little fuzz balls clinging to them, but they stuck around like loyal pets.
Bonus points if there were a few in colors that hadn’t matched any hairstyle since 1972.
4. That One Mystery Key
Nobody knew what it opened, but it had a home in the sewing kit for decades. Maybe a lockbox? A diary? A long-lost cabinet?
We may never know, but Mom sure wasn’t going to throw it out “just in case.”
5. A Random Crayon (Usually Broken)
Occasionally, half-melted or reduced to a pitiful stub, this crayon held a steadfast place. Was it for marking fabric or entertaining grandkids?
Its purpose unclear, it nestled permanently among needles and thread.
6. Band-Aids in a Worn Paper Wrapper
Forget the medicine cabinet: minor cuts found relief with the dusty Band-Aid tucked behind the button tin.
If fortunate, it still adhered; otherwise, Mother secured it with tape and deemed it sufficient.
7. Loose Change
A few stray pennies and nickels invariably rolled about, perhaps remnants from pre-laundry pocket checks.
Never enough for a purchase, they collected lint diligently, as if it were their mission.
8. Broken Jewelry She Swore She’d Fix One Day
An orphaned earring, a necklace with a broken clasp: these awaited a mythical repair day, stored in tiny zip-lock bags or repurposed matchboxes.
They aged alongside the kit, untouched by time.
9. Tums or Mints in a Wrinkled Foil Pack
Because you never knew when a stomachache or bad breath would strike during a hemming emergency. Half the time, the mints were crumbling or so old they tasted like the sewing kit itself.
Still, they were offered like treasured relics.
10. Buttons From Clothes Nobody Remembered Owning
That little plastic box of spare buttons always contained at least five mystery buttons from garments no one in the family could identify.
“Might be from your dad’s old jacket,” Mom would say. You didn’t dare suggest throwing them out.
11. A Miniature Screwdriver Set
Sewing machines need maintenance, yes, but somehow a full micro-toolkit ended up alongside the threads.
It was also used to fix glasses, replace battery covers, or dig mystery crumbs out of tight corners.
More of a Swiss Army knife than a sewing kit accessory.
12. A Single Match or Birthday Candle Stub
Whether for singeing thread ends or easing waxed zippers, its presence was unquestioned.
Wrapped in tissue or a bread bag tie, this item sat snugly, its purpose a quiet enigma.
13. A Tiny Pair of Child-Sized Scissors
Not the sewing shears, but the plastic-handled pair that clearly came from a school pencil box. They barely cut paper, but they lived there for decades like honored guests.
And somehow, you always grabbed those first by mistake.