What You ACTUALLY Need to Make Clothes in an Apocalypse

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Poverty substitutions: A Tic-Tac box can be a good pin holder. Silicone swimmer's ear plugs are good thread conditioner, at least for modern sewing. A prescription bottle can be a good needle case, and maybe also hold a thread spool, leather thimble, plus conditioner. Ziploc bags can be good sewing kits or project bags (2 gal size will hold an entire shirt). Leather for thimbles or bags can be harvested from a thrifted bomber jacket that was full of holes. Fiskars makes really good small pointy scissors for just a couple of bucks, and they are plenty sharp especially when new. A sheet of craft felt can be cut into 2"x3" squares and sewn together like a book, which is excellent as a pin/needle organizer and also as a pincushion. There are also little disposable adhesive discs of thin tough plastic that you can stick to your finger as needed for protection, called Thimble-It. They might work for people who just hate thimbles. Sewing machine bobbins can be a great way to bring along enough thread to work with, without taking up much space. If I could carry only one spool of thread, it would be gray. Gray blends surprisingly well with almost any color or shade, and is good enough for an emergency repair. Often, you can't even see it because it is hidden in a seam. I've got lots of repaired clothing that I totally forgot were ever broken, until I'm washing it inside out and see the thread mismatch. But it's easy to see and replace if that is ever important to you. The point is that getting started doesn't have to mean buying anything expensive. Beautiful antique bird-shaped embroidery scissors are wonderful to have, and great to aspire level up to when you find this hobby really is a long-term passion. But for starting out, a beginner's kit is a great way to introduce yourself to the hobby and have time to build your skills before investing too much. Also, cheap kits like this are good for folks like me with ADHD who forever are losing our kits and need to replace the stuff often. PS. I also like nail clippers to snip threads on the go. Easier on the pockets than scissors.

Having all the safety pins loose rather than threaded onto one big safety pin is a level of chaos I was not expecting!

That opening of Bernadette emptying her sewing bag is exactly like that gag in action films where the one character just keeps. pulling. more. weapons. out of their pockets for far too long. 😂

I am an aircraft electronics technician. I also cook and play D&D sometimes. I don’t sew. I have never sewn. I don’t even have any real particular interest in garments. That being said, I really enjoy watching Bernadette’s videos. Watching intelligent people talk about their craft of which they are passionate about is always the best thing, regardless of the subject.

Update life goals: ask my local, small town sewing store, "What needles will I need in an apocalypse? "

I work at a library and was making some online content. I was telling everyone about how a book on pinloom weaving essentially changed my life and turned me into a weaver. One of the things I mentioned was that during a zombie apocalypse, I now have the very useful skill of creating fabric. 😂 Edit: Sorry for not naming the book! It’s Pin Loom Weaving by Margret Stump. It’s the book that really peaked my interest in weaving. Now I own a few dozen pin looms, a couple of inkle looms, a rigid heddle loom, and an 8-shaft floor loom. But that’s the book that got me started.

When seeing the leather thimble I realized it's probably possible to improvise a thimble out of duct tape.

My Taylor's Shears belonged to my Grandfather's older brother "Uncle Bob" who I'm named for. Made in the 1930's, he had them in his kit when his unit hit the beach at Normandy in 1944. He used them all though his career as a men's clothier until he retired in the 1980's. I've cut dozens of garments with them (Sailcloth & Leather, too) and never sharpened them. The steel is probably better than several of the hand forged swords that I own as part of my Scottish and Medieval period garb. They are coming up on 100 years old soon. Every time I use them I think of him and thank him.

Bernadette banner takes priority over food and water come Armageddon.

If you are somewhere in the wilderness and mostly have to patch holes in things like socks, pants and underpants, I'd actually go with black (or dark blue) nylon thread. Very strong, very cheap, can be used for shelter building and to elongate fishing lines as well.

Love the comment that “my sewing kit is full of people who have believed in my sewing career over the years and I get to keep them with me at all times.” That reminder of support is so important, well everywhere, and especially in non-linear life endeavors. Thanks for squaring us away for the apocalypse. 😊

The Sherlock pin cushion is adorable! Good job Heathcliff 👍🏼

A purely aesthetic comment, the light/softbox/whatever-that-thing-is-called looks like a huge moon in the reflection and I absolutely LOVE the vibes it gives. A vampire lady telling us how to survive and sew.

Well, my main take away from this video is that I want a sewing kit full of people who believe in me. That sounds pretty damned essential.

The little needle cushion Heathcliffe made is ADORABLE. Fantastic work Heathcliffe, it's so cute, I adore it

That concept takes me back to the pessimistic days of the early 2010s, when apocalypse seemed to be right around the corner. Little did we know it would actually happen in this weird slow moving way

Love the cyberman head in your fabric stash. Further evidence Bernadette is actually a Time Lord.

I think wax is super essential so you don't have to lick the thread to poke it through a needle, way easier waxing the end, and more acceptable on the tube

A mini Altoids tin or two is amazing to have. Add a magnet, or a scrap of cabbage and it can be an easy place to store pins (both straight pins and or needles). I have a wound bobbin, bird shaped needle threader that can also cut the thread and some needles for an emergency sewing kit. Oh. And a little scrap of wax.