If you are like me and currently wondering where the year has gone, you might also have started your Christmas shopping! It might only be the middle of October at the moment, but I always feel better getting it over and done with sooner rather than later so I am not worrying about buying last minute presents. For my crafty friends, I like to buy items they can use for their hobbies, and I always Buy Haberdashery here at Calico Laine. In today's blog, I've put together a little list of things that I think are absolutely essential for anyone's sewing kit, just in case you feel inspired to put together a gift bundle for one of your loved ones too. Gutermann Sew-All Thread - This polyester thread comes highly recommended by all of our staff, and it is a favourite of sewing enthusiasts for its ability to sew through practically any fabric without shredding or fraying. The Gutermann Sew-All range has a huge range of colours available, so whatever colour your fabric is, you are guaranteed to find a great match for it somewhere in this collection. If you are sewing a lot of one particular fabric, make sure to check if a bigger reel size is available in the colour that you need; these bigger reels are more economical when it comes to price, and will save you money in the long run. Scissors - When it comes to cutting fabric, it is very important to have the right (or left!) pair of scissors for the job. Buying a pair made especially for the purpose from our Haberdashery range is something that we always recommend, and we always advise that you should never try using a pair that were not specifically created for cutting fabric, as it does not achieve a smooth cut and it can damage fabric beyond repair. At Calico Laine, all of our staff use dressmaking scissors from the Fiskars range, which are available in both left-handed and right-handed varieties. Quick Un-Pick - Have you sewn a seam that just didn't turn out the way you wanted it? No need to worry - it happens to all of us, no matter how experienced we are! Mistakes are easy to make, especially if you are only just beginning to learn how to sew, but it is not the end of the world. A quick un-pick (also known as a stitch ripper or seam ripper) is made for safely and easily removing unwanted stitches from fabric without having to resort to using scissors or other sharp objects. We do recommend that a quick unpick is NOT used on sheer or thin fabrics, as they are easy to damage if not handled delicately. Pin Cushion - Pins have a nasty habit of escaping from storage, and so it is best to keep them somewhere safe before they cause someone any injury. We recommend buying a pin cushion for this purpose - this great little Haberdashery item is an easy and safe way to keep track of your pins, and also to keep them from falling out of your sewing box when they are not being used. We also stock a few other varieties of pin cushions including versions that strap to your wrist or around your fingers for easy access. Do you have any recommendations of your own when you are buying Haberdashery items? Let us know on our Facebook page – we love hearing back from our customers!