With basic sewing supplies and some simple hand stitches, you can create beautiful and festive decorations for entertaining.

Basic Sewing Kit Supplies
Start with these sewing essentials, and add specialized supplies as needed.

1. Assorted fasteners: Get hooks and eyes, small snaps.

2. Sewing-machine needles: General-purpose sharp-point needles are good for most woven fabrics.

3. White buttons: Keep a small supply in various sizes.

4. Seam ripper: This tool opens seams almost effortlessly.

5. Safety pins: Store them on one pin so they don't scatter throughout the basket.

6. Hand-sewing needles of various sizes: Sharps are best for most stitching and mending; ball points should be used on knits.

7. Needle threader: To use, slip the flexible wire loop through the eye of a hand needle, feed the thread through it, and pull the wire back out, bringing the thread with it.

8. Tailor's chalk: Use this to mark fabric before cutting and altering.

9. Thimble: When hand sewing, wear it on your middle finger to push the needle through.

10. Beeswax: A wax coating keeps thread from tangling during hand sewing; keep it in a plastic holder with slots to slide the needle and thread through.

11. Tape measure: Use this to measure soft, curved things (use a yardstick to measure fabric on a work surface).

12. Thread: All-purpose is appropriate for most sewing. Use extra-thin thread on particularly fine fabrics; heavy-duty on thick fabrics. Buttonhole twist is good for buttonholes and decorative stitching.

13. Pin holder: A magnetic one can pick up scattered pins.

14. For cutting fabric, a pair of good quality sewing scissors or dressmaker's shears is a necessity; you'll also need pinking shears to prevent fabric from fraying.

Choosing the Right Fabric
While you can be as creative as you like when selecting material for your sewing projects, certain fabrics are appropriate for some projects more than others.

Pillows
Cotton, taffeta, linen, velvet. If using a different fabric for the back of a pillow, consider solid chintz or a durable fabric like silk shantung.

Tablecloths
Cotton, linen

Aprons
Cotton, canvas, linen, oilcloth

Blankets
Wool, cotton, micro fleece, seersucker, flannel