Ultimate needle storage

Windwatcher scribbled on a scrap of paper:

is there such a thing as a good used needle?

I use a fishing tackle box that has sections in it that you can creat the size you want. I put each type in it. I try to have at least one whole pack of needles on hand at a time. The case that the schmetz comes and the organ needles sit in there on a slant. At a glance, I can see the type of needle it is, the size and how many I have left. I keep my embroidery needles, serger, and sewing machine needles all in this case. I have seen others use this type of case to store their presser feet for their machines. Sandy

Yes, but they are VERY rare! A double needle that has been used for one or two hems on a panne velvet dress will be good for a couple more, but really, they are the only sort of thing I keep. Ordinary universal 80's get discarded unless they have only done a seam or two and then been swapped out for another process. If they've done half a garment or more, I just bin them.

I factor needle costs like these into garment pricing when making costumes or garments for others. I also take it into account when doing stuff for myself. A blunt or damaged needle can so easily ruin a garment.

A good magnifying glass will help. Needles are marked with the size, but I certainly can't see the marking without a strong glass.

Some people use a "tomato" pincushion, marking off sections for different sizes. A Sharpie will write on the red cloth, and the strings around the pincushion make dividers. You can draw a horizontal line around the "equator" to double the number of sections.

I have a couple of flat needle cases in the shape of a circle, was sold by Singer, that you can dial the opening to the size and type of needle you want. I do like the way Singer bands their needles with different colors. That doesn't work for my Schmetz needles, though - I have to use the glass.

I have a sewing machine and a serger, both using the same needles. My system involves two clothespins, one marked serger and the other plain (for the sewing machine).

I take a needle from a case. I clip the clothespin on that case. I now know which kind of needle is in that machine. Thus, when I don't sew for a while and need to do a quickie repair on something, I know what kind of needle is in there. Used needles go in a empty case, they do not go back in a new case. I have loads of cases, and the case is marked "used" and a date. Some needles just get thrown out, some stay around for a while If I've only done a few things with them, switching from two needle to one in the serger after a few seams for instance, one needle has more wear than the other. If I take a used needle out for a ride, the clothespin goes on that case.

Jr

I use old (used) Gutermann thread spools. They unwind and you can insert about five needles in each. I use an ultrafine marking pen to label the spools as to size/type, and write a number on each spool, such as 1, 2, 3, etc., in a different color to identify how many times the needles have been used. The spools fit on my thread stand and I can reach them quickly.

I use the plastic sectioned fishing tackle box method for needle storage as well. They lay at the perfect angle so when you open the lid you can see exactly what you have. I also have one of those little strawberry pin chushions hanging from my shelf next to my machine, I have used a Sharpie pen to section and mark sizes on it. I have ONE large daisey topped fleece pin stuck into it. At times I have only used a needle very briefly so I stick that one in the appropriate section of the pin cushion, the one I take out to put in my machine I stick the daisy topped pin in that section so I know what I'm using and where to put it back.

For needle disposal I have a long pill bottle with a child proof cap and have drilled a hole just big enough to accomidate the needle shaft. When I toss a needle, and I change needles often, I just drop it through the hole. When the bottle gets full I toss the whole thing and make a new one. My Pharmacist sells them to me for 25 cents. This way I don't have stray needles in the trash.

I also use a tackle box, like the one I use for needles, with adjustable dividers for all my presser feet. By removing a few dividers it also holds my buttonholer attachment, quilt bar thingy and a few other odd sized gizmos I use on my machine.

Val

Sure! I swap needles out all the time. A double needle that's done a couple of feet of pintucking on cotton batiste, a needle that I've used to try to decide if I want a 80 or 90 Universal or Microtex or Ballpoint or Jeans for a particular fabric, etc., etc. If I've used a needle for most of a garment, I'll probably pitch it.

Kay Lancaster snipped-for-privacy@fern.com

Kate Dicey scribbled in news: snipped-for-privacy@diceyhome.free-online.co.uk:

I buy them in bulk and don't worry so much about costs. Schmetz needles can be bought for 100 for about $20.

Re: Ultimate needle storage

snipped-for-privacy@webtv.net scribbled in news:29717-40001779-18@storefull-

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