Mending Kit ("Housewife")

This 'housewife' sewing kit (or 'hussif') was one of many made during the Second World War (1939-45) for service people to be able to mend their uniforms and underwear, etc.

The National Patriotric Board called for thousands of hussifs to be made for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Some were made by Red Cross volunteers.

Cotton tape was sewn onto a strip of khaki tape to hold sewing accessories (such as hanks of thread), spare buttons, safety pins, and implements (sewing scissors). Flannel patches were sewn on to hold pins and needles. The edges of the flannel were 'pinked' by pinking shears so that the material wouldn't fray.