This Is What the Ultimate Sewing Basket Looks Like

First and foremost, you will need an array of hand needles. Pictured above from top to bottom:

Sewing needle: An all-purpose sewing needle of medium size with a small eye is invaluable for hand-sewing. Needle sizes are numbered: 1 is the largest, and 12 the smallest. Sharps are the most common hand-sewing needles; use blunt, or ball-point, needles for knit fabrics. Quilting needle: Its short length and sharp point are ideal for making small stitches; the narrow eye ensures the needle passes smoothly though multiple layers. Quilting needles are sometimes called “betweens” and come in sizes 7 (largest) through 12 (smallest). Applique needle: An applique needle should be thin in order to slide easily through the fabric and leave nearly invisible holes. Crewel needle: Used for embroidering crewelwork on tightly woven fabric, these needles have sharp tips for piercing fabric, and long eyes to make threading yarn easier. They come in sizes 1 (largest) through 10 (smallest). Chenille needle: These needles have sharp points for embroidering on tightly woven fabric. Their large eyes make them a good choice for ribbon embroidery. Milliners needle: Also called straw needles, milliners needles are long and thin with small eyes. They are commonly used for applique and for making long basting stitches when sewing. Tapestry needle: A tapestry needle’s blunt point allows it to push between the fibers of loosely woven fabrics, ensuring that the fibers won’t snag or break, and allowing for evenly spaced stitches. Use it for embroidery, especially cross-stitch. Needles range in size from 13 (largest) to 26 (smallest). Upholstery needle: This large, sharp needle easily pierces heavy-duty fabrics such as canvas or other thick upholstery fabrics. Sashiko needle: When embroidering in the Japanese style sashiko, gather a series of running stitches on this extra-long needle before passing it through the cloth.