“A stitch in time saves nine.”
That is a very old adage that is still true today. It may have started out referring to sewing things but it also applies to most things.
If you have a small tear in your shirt or tent, if you sew it shut now it’s a small chore but if you leave it, it could end up ripping your shirt or tent in two and then becomes a major repair.
When I started working in the bush, it soon became apparent that it would be wise to have your own repair and fix-it supplies, mainly because most companies didn’t provide them. I had learned how to sew as a kid from watching my mother sew. In Boy Scouts, I got my sewing badge by making my own shirt. So, I always took a few needles and some thread with me, just in case.
In the early 1970s, I bought the book 'Farmers Needle,' which I still have today. I can’t remember where I got it, but it could have been from Weaver's store. As the cover says, the book contains a complete needle assortment for bags, leather, clothing, darning, etc. I have lost a few of the needles over the years but still have all the important ones.
A needle or two is a handy thing to have. You can use them for sewing and you can use them to dig out splinters or those cursed rose hip thorns. If you are prospecting, a needle is handy to test the hardness of minerals and to see if a little yellow speck is gold or fool's gold. Gold is very soft. You can scratch it or smear it with a needle, but fool's gold is much harder and usually breaks apart. So, I often have a needle with me when I am out prospecting. I wouldn’t go to the bush for any length of time without needles and thread.
I was out in a camp with two other fellows and a windstorm put a small tear in the tent. I pulled out my needle and thread and sewed up the tear before it got worse. The guys were a little amazed and one said, “You know how to sew.” I was a little stunned. I thought everyone would know how to sew. It’s not very difficult and if you watch someone sewing, you pretty much see how it is done. Tying off the last of your stitches might be a little tricky but other than that, it is pretty basic stuff.
I even darned socks way back when. It wasn’t pretty, but I got the job done. Also sewed harnesses for carrying geophysical equipment and repaired a few pack sacks. A few times someone would see me sewing something and they would ask if I would sew something for them. My answer was, “I’ll show you how to sew and help you along, but you have to learn to do your own sewing. I wasn’t a member of the seamstress union.”
Along with needles and some good strong thread, I try to have some duct tape, snare wire, a small pair of needle-nose pliers, a multi-bit screwdriver, a tub of goop or sealant and a few other odds and ends. Why? Because when you are out in the bush or on the barrens and something breaks down or gets damaged, having a little fix-it kit often means that you can fix it.
If I am using a boat and motor, I have a small bag of boat tools with me. With engines, fouled spark plugs or a tiny bit of water in your gas can mean trouble, so you want to be able to take your spark plug out and clean it and add a little gasoline de-icer or filter the moisture out of your gas.
It often amazes me that people will go out boating with no map, no tools and no way to make minor repairs, which can often be the difference between getting home or back to your camp and having search and rescue out looking for you.
It’s all part of the old Boy Scout motto: “Be Prepared.” I really think they should teach this stuff in schools, so people know the basics of how to fix things for themselves.
