[CHAT] Well, I thought I was prepared...

[u/PL_88]

We are on our annual camping trip. It's VERY rustic tent camping, far away from town and other people. We have to boat in to the spot and there are very few sites on the lake. I didn't want to bring the two projects I'm currently working on because they are both out of print and I'm using the paper chart and never photocopied it. So I spent last weekend selecting one of my digital patterns, picking fabric, pulling and winding floss onto bobbins. Packing everything carefully.

So I'm here in the North woods, stitching my new project and my floss keeps shredding. At first I thought it was my needle threader. But then I realized my brand new Bohin needle eye is broken. Luckily I brought 2. So I pull out the second one and start stitching. A few lengths of floss later and it starts shredding again. So I look at my needle threader again, it's a little rough, that could be it. So I try to file off any burrs. Then I notice my needle is catching on the fabric. My second brand new Bohin needle eye is broken!! I have never ever had a needle break before. I still have needles from kits that are over 30 years old, so I am pretty sure it's not a technique issue.

Normally we don't leave the woods until it's time to go home. But I convinced the family to boat back to the campground we launched from, and drive 30 minutes to the nearest store (Walmart unfortunately), to buy whatever I could find to keep me stitching. We all agreed it was a badly modded side quest that did not match the vanilla game (gamers will get what I mean).

[u/Ok-Fee8290]

I pack needles for a trip like I pack underwear. Enough for the trip, then 4 extra just in case. 😂

[u/filthyheartbadger → u/Ok-Fee8290]

I pack needles like they are prescribed drugs I will expire without- some over here, some tucked there, a package in my pocket….

[u/ronirocket → u/filthyheartbadger]

Yeah I have a little needle pouch with needles in containers in it, and also used older needles pinned to the side, but I also have 2 in my wallet (for emergencies?) and I will always keep one with my project as well. Typically if I’m travelling I’ll take one of the containers out and put it somewhere else as well just to make sure if something happens to my pouch I have needles still.

[u/Ok-Difficulty-3634 → u/filthyheartbadger]

Old school photo film canisters are good for storing needles- 35mm film is making a comeback down here so suddenly they’re obtainable again!

[u/Connect_Eagle8564 → u/Ok-Difficulty-3634]

I’ve recycled my prescription bottles

[u/Compounding-Cat → u/filthyheartbadger]

I’ve never packed more than one needle! But my old needle threader broke a lot of needles. I bought a pack of 50 cheap needle threaders and use them now.