The word haberdashery is used when referring to basic sewing notions such as buttons, needles or threads but it can also be used to describe a shop which sells such goods like ourselves here at Calico Laine. The term Haberdashery might be used to casually describe sewing basics but in reality it is a massive global industry which produces thousands of products. International companies like Prym and Vilene are constantly advancing their products and developing new things for both professionals and home sewers alike. The haberdashery industry has deep historic roots but it has evolved considerably and is currently thriving. Today I'll look at some of the products that have been developed in more recent years but have revolutionised my sewing room! The first item is a universal tool for self cover buttons. This haberdashery product is simple and cheap but it'll save you time. This tool allows you to cover a button in seconds without the fuss of doing a running stitch which then needs gathering in and tying before the back can be added.  Instead you simply cut your fabric and the tool does all the gathering for you. Genius! The second product I'd like to talk about are my pins. I realise this sounds quite basic as pins are probably the one of the oldest items of haberdashery going but pins have improved somewhat in recent years. There are 2 different types of pins which I consider to be essential in my sewing box, they are the Prym quilting pins (028485) and the Prym glass headed pins (029216). My mum always taught me that as soon as you get your sewing machine out, get your iron out too. The glass headed pins are ideal because they will not melt when using the iron on your sewing project. I always have the quilting pins to hand because they are a little longer than ordinary pins which makes them useful if you're sewing anything thick or heavy. They are designed for pinning multiple layers while quilting but I find them very useful when sewing with fleece, heavy wools or melton fabrics. Who knew pins were so complex! Finally, my haberdashery box wouldn't be complete without Bondaweb. This Vilene product is ideal for appliqués, I personally use it for attaching names to bunting. This is a heat activated glue in a sheet form. It comes with a peel away backing so you iron the Bondaweb to your appliqué first, peel the back off and then iron your appliqué to your garment or project. I find all Vilene products to be good quality and the Bondaweb is no exception, in my opinion its better than glue I've used. I hope this has given you a small insight into the vast and complex world of haberdashery. Happy sewing!