You don’t need to be able to sew a masterpiece to have the essential skills you’re most likely to need in a long term emergency situation. The majority of sewing you will need to perform will fall into one of these four basic categories. Learn these and you’ll be able to tackle most emergency sewing projects you will encounter.
1. Closure repair. Depending on the quality of original materials used and amount of stress on the closure point, zippers, buttons, Velcro, and snaps are often the first things to need repair on a piece of clothing. Learning how to repair a button, replace a zipper, or substitute a new form of closure for one that cannot be repaired will keep your clothes on and your fly shut.
2. Seam repair. Seams are another stress point that frequently fails on clothing. Aside from keeping your clothes together, learning to stitch a seam closed is a skill that can be expanded to piecing together new articles of clothing, repairing a tent, or suturing a wound.
3. Patching. With continued use, clothing will wear out or tear in areas other than closures or seams. Stitching another piece of fabric over or under the worn area extends the life and usefulness of the garment.
4. Size adjustments. In a long term emergency, children will continue to grow and decreased food intake coupled with increased activity and stress will result in shrinking waist lines among many in the adult population. Suspenders, a belt, or overalls can be a quick fix, but taking in a waist band will provide a more comfortable and secure fit. Learn to hem up or lengthen pants for children to keep clothes on your family as they grow.
With these four survival sewing skills in your preparedness quiver you will be able to conquer most emergency sewing projects that come your way. As an added benefit, these are skills that are useful now as well as in an emergency.
Keep preparing! Angela
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