thumb|right|Some sewing notions: a pin cushion, pins, buttons, hooks and eyes, [[seam ripper, and sewing chalk]]
In sewing and haberdashery, notions are small objects or accessories, including items that are sewn or otherwise attached to a finished article, such as buttons, snaps, and collar stays. Notions also include the small tools used in sewing, such as needles, thread, pins, marking pens, elastic, and seam rippers. The noun is almost always used in the plural. The term is chiefly in American English (the equivalent British term is haberdashery). It was also formerly used in the phrase "Yankee notions", meaning American products. A fabric store will have a section or department devoted to notions, and a spool of thread is considered a notion.
History
Origins
The roots of notions trace back around 25,000 years to the discovery of bone needles, a crucial tool in stitching garments made from fur. These early sewers also utilized thimbles to guard against occasional finger pricks, as evidenced by ancient artifacts. The emergence of buttons and buttonholes in Europe occurred during the European Crusades, as Christian armies encountered novel practices in faraway regions. The landscape of sewing changed dramatically with the introduction of machine-made cotton thread in England, approximately 500 years after the Crusades, facilitating the craft on a global scale.
1700s
The 18th century stands out as a transformative period for notions. The first sewing needle factory opened in Germany in 1730, and the first mechanical needle was manufactured 25 years later. Although no surviving sewing machine from that era has been discovered, the groundwork for such a device was unmistakably laid.