HELP!

Are you talking about a "hussif"? There are lots of patterns online if you "Google" for it. There is even one suitable for re-enactors, both civilian and military.

If you need something larger, I'm sure it would be dead easy just to double all the measurements.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Olwyn Mary, you are so smart! I couldn't figure out what Kate was wanting, and had never heard the term "hussif." So after your post, I went Googling and found the sites you mention.

One with a pattern:

of others with pictures of the end product, in various guises. Plain and fancy. I think I actually have one somewhere that I made from a little kit years ago. Remember those pre-printed lengths of cloth? It was from one of those.

> >

Hussif was what the British Army called it. A contraction of "housewife". I think they used to be issued to soldiers until about WWI.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

THAT was the word I couldn't remember! Off on a new search... Ta, love!

> >

That's one I've been looking at. Bit small, but...

I want to improve on this sort of thing:

have better quality scissors, and thread, spare buttons off some old trousers, and I can add in some patches cut from spare fabric. I'll add some straight pins and a pack of needles, a thimble, and a couple of other bits. He's supposed to have instructions with it... Off to make up some instructions for patching and sewing buttons on!

>>>>

Ok, it's done! In the end it took longer to find and fire up Visio and do the accompanying instruction leaftlet!

I need to get him some decent smaller reels of thread, but other than that, it has all the essentials:

Small scissors Quick un-pick Pins Needles Safety pins Patches Buttons Instruction leaflet Hefty Velcro closure

Nah... CBA! ;) I just dug out some reels the right size and colours in Guttermann silk! :D It's nice and strong and better than hand sewing with polyester.

WOW! What a great answer! Like a laser! JPBill

How about adding in a needle threader in case he suddenly becomes all thumbs when faced with an emergency repair? I know I occasionally need one if I am in a hurry.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Needle threader and gripper for pulling needles out again already in there. Now I just need to get him a thimble...

Isn't that something that goes on a finger you *don't* use to push the needle?

Open ended and closed top thimbles, leather thimble, all unused.....

So, as a temporary (or permanent!)measure, wind off some decent thread onto empty bobbins and put those in the kit.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans