Traveling with a Sewing Kit

The sewing machine was invented in the late 18^th century, and before that many women would spend most of their chores maintaining the family clothing. Even those with a hired seamstress would devote several days each month to this arduous duty. These machines were heavy and bulky, but they revolutionized the lives of housewives everywhere.

Just more than 200 years later, the advent of the mini sewing kit meant travelers had their lives revolutionized, too. Gone were the days of jet-setting businessmen stressing over ripped suit pants hours before a meeting, and no longer would that unsightly hole in your shirt be an embarrassment for your romantic poolside dinner. The amount of time and money the traveler’s sewing kit saved was a gift sent down from the laundry gods.

Traveling with a sewing kit is not just for clothes, however. It can make you appear as if you are an individual with a wealth of experience. Nobody questions the actions of a backpacker who owns a sewing kit. Nobody questions the entrepreneur who owns a mini sewing kit.

Many travelers only bring a single button-up shirt depending on where they’re headed. That shirt likely has extra buttons sewed somewhere into the shirt. While duct tape and super glue go a long way, they don’t really fix a popped button an hour before dinner.

So, the next time you travel on business or backpack around the world, don’t forget your sewing kit. It can help you out of a sticky situation, and it can save you a dollar or two to boot.