choosing a needle?

I am guilty of using quilting needles for everything, because they have an eye actually big enough for the thread. But I know what you mean. I was binding a baby quilt, and chose a brand new straw needle... It just glided through that fabric like it was greased. BUT!! The thread is bigger than the eye!! The NEEDLE THREADER is bigger than the eye! I finally found a Roxanne threader for $2, thought, what the heck, for $2 I'll try it. It is the only threader that works on those blamed needles so far. Sherry

One very good thing about those lovely, thin, fine, sharp milliner's/straw needles is that they bend before they can get dull. You are forced to use a brand new needle every so often. But they are horrid to try to thread. I've been known to cry in frustration over them!

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

I am guilty of using quilting needles for everything, because they have an eye actually big enough for the thread. But I know what you mean. I was binding a baby quilt, and chose a brand new straw needle... It just glided through that fabric like it was greased. BUT!! The thread is bigger than the eye!! The NEEDLE THREADER is bigger than the eye! I finally found a Roxanne threader for $2, thought, what the heck, for $2 I'll try it. It is the only threader that works on those blamed needles so far. Sherry

I am really glad to hear someone else say that. I just thought that obviously I was missing some skill that was required to thread the stupid thing, or that maybe I had some kind of trick thread that automatically swells up larger than the eye, just to hack me off. They do bend pretty bad. I actually only bought them because they were required for an applique class, I'd never used them before either.

Sherry

I cheated. Well, actually, not 'cheated' but I did have to get serious help. Everytime I had to thread the needle, I turned on my super serious magnifying lens floor lamp. It was worth the trip and didn't do me any harm to get up and take a break anyhow. That lamp weighs more than I do and I needed to let my cutting table bear the weight of the quilt so I couldn't get them together. You are right. I can't see well enough to be certain but I strongly suspect that the thread is bigger around than the eye of the milliner's needle - but, oh my! aren't they wonderful? Polly

I am really glad to hear someone else say that. I just thought that obviously I was missing some skill that was required to thread the stupid thing, or that maybe I had some kind of trick thread that automatically swells up larger than the eye, just to hack me off. They do bend pretty bad. I actually only bought them because they were required for an applique class, I'd never used them before either.

Sherry

and if one side of the needle wont work, turn it round and try threading thru the other side. iirc reading somewhere that needle holes are punched out so one side will be bigger and easier to get that damn thread to go thru. oh and try wetting the needle rather than the thread. sometimes either/both of those help with threading. j.

When it gets really late at night, Jeanne, is when I can't tell which end of the needle has the eye on it. LOL Polly

some have an eye on both ends, maybe you need some of those ones. j.

"Polly Esther" wrote... When it gets really late at night, Jeanne, is when I can't tell which end of the needle has the eye on it. LOL Polly

"J*" wrote ...

I wonder if we should apply the 'new project = new needle' pricipal to hand sewing as well as machine sewing? I certainly get through the hand needles when making garments. Mind you, there I tend to bend them, and, as with pins, bananas do not go in fabric! ;)

I use straws a lot, and I don't usually have a problem threading them: I just take me specs off and hold them close!

I feel just the same about pins! Now, when I have any difficulty in 'pushing' a pin into fabric, I remove it and put it in my 'sharps disposal' cup (a plastic pot with a lid, which has a hole pierced in the plastic lid so that I can just drop pins and needles into it. It is larger than a film case, so much easier to use. . In message , Polly Esther writes

When starting a new project, a new needle is what I go for.

When somebody comes running for a replacement button, or other minor mend, I grab a needle from the pincushion.

NightMist

Hi, Polly

An old trick that my grandmother taught me was to run those dull hand-needles through your hair. The natural grease ;) of ones hair will make that needle slide through your material.

Donna in WA

I kNEW i needed to do something...replace my pin jar..for the old pins and needles. i brought the old one to the pharmacy for disposal (they put them with their sharps waste) and never did get another container!!! i now have it on my to-do list! Thanks, Ms. Polly!!

i heard somewhere, probably a quilt class, you should change your SM needle every 8 hrs of sewing and the hand needles after 12 hrs of sewing. Eh, when their dull, change em out.

great topic. amy in CNY

i did this with diaper/nappy pins with all 3 babys. it was automatic and worked a treat. keeping an emery pincushion also helps. j.

"whosoever" wrote ... Hi, Polly An old trick that my grandmother taught me was to run those dull hand-needles through your hair. The natural grease ;) of ones hair will make that needle slide through your material. Donna in WA