Are beading needles always sharp ?

I've used a tapestry needle for beading. You just have to use a small one to fit through the beads.

-- Jere

You can turn a sharp needle into a blunt one with some emery paper very easily. Even fine sandpaper might do the trick. HTH.

-- Jim Cripwell. A volante tribe of bards on earth are found,/ who, while the flattering zephyrs round them play,/ on "coignes of vantage" build their nests of clay;/ how quickly from that aery hold unbound,/ dust for oblivion!/ To the solid ground/ of nature trusts the mind that builds for aye. Wordsworth.

If you or someone you know has a bench grinder or a Dremel tool (or equivalent) you can take a beading needle and grind down the point to make it blunt. Works for me.

George

I don't know wether there are blunt beading needles available, but you can always blunt yours by running the tip over an emery board or fine sandpaper. I usially run the tip over the sandpaper a few times and then test it with my indexfinger to see wether it's blunt enough and doesn't have any rough spots, just repeat as often as you need to make a nice blunt tip without any rough spots.

cu nicole

The absolute best needles I have used for beading came in a Mill Hill kit - Tiny Diamond ornaments. There is a blunt end on it; I wish I knew where they got them.

Janet

Thanks everyone. Now I know what they're called I've found some ball point beading needles on-line and have ordered some.

Thanks again

Anne