To start your own mending kit, check out Visible Mending 101: Mending Kit Essentials. I like to “shop” my house to find supplies and objects that will work as darning tools.
Where To Buy
If you need some specialized supplies, here are some good local and online sources. (Note: Art on the Mend receives no commission for these products.)
Ayers Variety & Hardware in Westover in Arlington, VA has kindly started to stocking sashiko needles and thread for us as well as their usual sewing supplies such as embroidery floss, hoops, and marking tools.
TINT Makerspace in Falls Church, Virginia has lots of color choices in sashiko thread and perle cotton thread.
Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria has needle felting starter kits.
Amazon (online) has all mending supplies including those in bulk for starting a circle.
Wawak (online) has sashiko needles, thread, and thimbles.
Where to print sashiko stencils and other 3D printed supplies
Art on the Mend has a “Stitching” collection on Thingiverse with lots of stencils and helpful tools for visible mending. You can print them using the 3D Print Request Form for Arlington Central Library. Use 30% infill. The line stencil 8mm is helpful for creating a sashiko grid.
Thread
One of our Mend-tors George Ziobro kindly made the following sampler to show what various types of thread look like.
Art on the Mend 