Necessary Supplies for Your Sewing Basket "The machine made needles developed in 1866 are the heart of all hand sewing." On March 2, 1866 The Excelsior Needle Company was formed. They were the first company to utilize machines to make inexpensive and uniform sewing needles. Let's see what today's Almanac post has to say about your sewing basket needs. 1. Assortment of various sized needles 2. A thimble and spools of size 50 or 60 cotton and silk thread in a range of colors 3. Extra strong button thread 4. Buttons kept in a small see thru plastic bag 5. Tape measurer and papers of common (straight) pins, hooks and eyes, and snaps. 6. Scissors 7. Darning Cotton and a Darning Egg Darning is a sewing technique were you use a woven pattern to patch holes in fabric. I had to Google that one! Dude Whatever Do you know how many times I have used my sewing machine....that I freaking asked for because I has a stay at...