Canadian WW II Housewife Sewing Kit Called a "Housewife," the typical sewing kit carried by Canadian soldiers included needles, thimble, buttons for Battle Dress and shirts, thread (both thin for badges and thick for darning socks, gloves, and other woolen items), and beeswax (to help waterproof the thread). The kit was made of khaki cloth with sewn in pockets and was closed by rolling it up and securing it with two cloth ties. Some sewing kits during the Second World War were actually produced by German prisoners living in Canada.