Versatile, compact sewing kits
Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
I gave my sewing machine to someone who actually uses one, but I still need to repair hems, sew buttons and do emergency clothing repairs. How can I get the job done without paying for multiple spools of thread, cards of buttons, etc.?
— Anne E.
Dear Anne: My go-to is the Survival Sew Kit put together by Singer for people like us who don’t have (and don’t want) a sewing machine but still sometimes need to repair clothes. The compact kit (amazon.com, $8.34 and up) is a little bulky for travel (7 inches long by 3.5 inches wide). But it is an inexpensive way to outfit your home, dorm room or apartment. There’s decent scissors, fabric glue, pre-threaded needles in popular colors, buttons, hem tape, etc., packed in a plastic box. I found mine in a grocery store, but fabric stores like Joann ( joann. com) also carry them. I used to travel with little pre-threaded needle kits you find as giveaways in hotel rooms, but there’s not enough basic colors, and the needles’ teeny eyes are impossible to rethread for klutzy sewers like me. Singer also makes a smaller, more compact
“Fly Friendly” sew kit (amazon.com, $5.79).
Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
I’ve had a bad experience with those “velvet” nonslip clothes hangers. The color transferred to a slightly damp shirt. And sometimes they shed their fuzz. I like them for their slim and uniform profile and they’re not unsightly, like metal ones from the dry cleaners. Are there any options?
— Carrie M.
Dear Carrie: I’ve used black velvet hangers I bought at Target years ago to hang dry my damp shirts with no problem, but I can understand why you don’t want to risk it. You can find rubberized nonslip hangers with the same slim profile for about $1 apiece at the Container Store (containerstore.com).
Dear Answer Angel Ellen:
Is there a universal stain remover I should travel with, instead of hauling Tide sticks, bleach pens and baby powder (for oil stains)?
— Kate K.
Dear Kate: My alwaystraveling friend Meg swears by her tiny spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide (inexpensive from the drugstore). It works on nearly every stain, from blood to red wine to oils. Just make sure your tiny bottle is less than three ounces for airport travel. And I always caution that doing a test in an inconspicuous area of the garment is your best bet.
Angelic Readers
From Linda S.: “This is for your reader Patricia L., who wanted labels on coats indicating their warmth. Lands’ End (landsend.com) shows coats as being warm, warmer and warmest with temperature ranges for their coats and jackets.” Peggy N. says: “I have worked for many years for a well-known outerwear company that sells warm coats and I can tell you temperature ratings are not a one size fits all. We all feel cold differently. A good 650 down jacket or PrimaLoft with a waterproof /windproof outer shell is going to be the warmest when outdoors for a longer period of time. If you don’t want the heavy-duty coat, make sure you have a base layer, wool or fleece sweater, lined jeans, warm hat, gloves, socks and footwear. Invest in good-quality products you’ll enjoy for years.”
Reader Rant
Glenda R. says: “I’m hoping this high-waist pants fad ends soon. It’s hard enough for a petite woman to find bottoms that fit nicely. The high waist isn’t very flattering. It makes the wearer’s butt look big, belly sticks out and are very uncomfortable when sitting. Highwaisted leggings roll down to the area where they should have been to begin with. Ugh!”