Needle storage and use

I think you use the needle which will pass easily between the threads. Using blunt end needles for canvas work/Hardanger etc - unless of course it is fancy canvas work which will need one capable of piercing the canvas thread.

Mine like yours are not always in the right packets, once used they go into felt so I apply the pass through technique.

Once my needles are out of their original packaging I try to keep them in individual little plastic cases by size.

I sometimes use the suggested size, I sometimes use whatever size I pick up, I sometimes use whatever size I can thread.

I guess my answer is all of the above.

I should make a proper needle book for the leftovers that don't make it back into the cases. Uummm~~ that might be a good idea for a small project.

Lucille

Yes, and Sue Hawkins has beauties. I have done some of hers (always easy to assemble) and someone at my Guild is just doing one of her scissor fobs which is also lovely.

I always use a #26 tapestry. Jim.

anne ( snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net) writes:

Those are very nice. I wonder what it would cost to have a kit shipped here from England or if they're available somewhere closer?

L >

I don't know, you could ask, UK postage is far more reasonable than NA and they don't tend to add $10 for SH when really the actual postage is $2 ! Most ebay stuff I buy gets shipped at about £4.99 for shipping.

Enabler! those are lovely!

I love the idea of organizing my needles but never seem to do it. They all are either in their original containers because I haven't taken them out and lost them yet, or stuck in a piece of felt.

a. No - I use whatever needle will work with the thread and ground fabric

Pat in Illinois

anne wrote:

And there are little ladybugs on some of them, like the pansy paperweight

Bobbie V

I use whatever needle passes easily through whatever stitching ground I am using; i do have a personal liking for short needles, whether this is because their turning radius appeals to my frugal gene or because I have smallish hands I don't know.

I try and stick things back in their original packaging, but then there are those that came in kits, and odd ones I find in chair arms; those I try and sort roughly at least by tapesty/sharp etc by sticking them in different pincushions.

I just got a fantastic book I remember mentioning here what seems like months back--Pretty Little Pincushions--so maybe it will inspire me to stitch up a few and then sort out the needles.

Dawne

I keep my needles in laboratory blood collection tubes (minus blood). I use purple tops, as they have no heparin, etc. in them. I use my label maker and label with brand and size. I use mostly #26 & #28. My favorite brand is Piecemaker.

just me, Cathy from KY in CA

I have larger hands and I like the petites, too, so it must be the frugal gene. :)

Nothin' like getting those last two stitches out of a length of thread! (We won't confess about the other stuff the frugal gene makes one do, like washing out ziptop plastic bags and hanging them to try over the kitchen faucet)

Dawne

What ?? I have used eyebrow tweezers to get that last stitch and considered it perfectly normal to wash out ziptops - there now ! You've ruined my day making me feel odd lol

Good for you, Anne.

LOL - I always seem to have gazillions of needles - but it's intentional. I keep a spare pack (at least) of 22,24, 26 & crewel 5, plus a beading needle, in my little bag that goes in my handi-caddy and travels about with me. Little bag is a mesh cosmetic kit thing, about 5X7, and good size for a tiny crochet hook, threader, snips, etx.

I tend to use needles in a pack, and there are a couple of packets open in one of the outside pockets of the caddy thing. Since I thread up a few needles at a time, spares with thread/or blank sit parked on a magnet while the project is out. But, when packing up - I often put the needles back in the packet, and put that away with the project kit. That said, I have some projects which I've made needle cards (magnetic) for, and will have a dozen or more threaded up, parked on that - again - it travels with project. When I'm done, if there's a spare space in the right size packet - I may refile them - in the ideal world.

I also have started making needlebooks (which will eventually be marketed) and fill them with nice wool felt (not craft store stuff). And store extra needles in that. I have some in just pieces of the felt.

Depends on whose suggestion. I prefer to use the needle which is appropriate for size of ground cloth, and the thread. And I almost always use petites.

I will use the smaller size that fits the thread. I don't want the thread abrading, but also don't want to over-open the ground fabric.

On linen - 28 ct - I'll use a 24 or 26. On 32 ct, a 26 petite. On higher count - 28s - though not the petite.

On canvas - it's a mix. Sometimes a 24 - which seems small but is good on

18 or 24 ct, doesn't over open the 24 ct, but won't damage the threads. Most of the time on 18 ct I use a 22 petite which fits well, and is good with heavier threads.

So, in summary - I sort of follow the basic guidance which the experts - i.e. Guilds, standard texts, provide, and then improvise from there according to the actual project.

Ellice

Are you getting the "gift of stitching" mag? It's published on-line, and IMHO is a great value. I'm thinking that she's had at least one in there. I could of course, go look and give you some links, but, hey.....

Ellice

Her things are really lovely. I'm actually going to send something from the shop, and see if we may be able to arrange some version of wholesale so the shop can carry her stuff. We've been looking for some more canvas kits and crewel. I'll let you know if we have any success. In general, we don't do a lot with designers, etc that sell directly on the web, but for the oversees stuff we do. Though I will say after our last adventure with some German samplers, it ended with us barely breaking even (they never go on sale). But, with a lot of the British, French & Italian work, it definitely works out better for the customers that the shop deals with the bulk shipping, as opposed to individuals.

Ellice

LOL - I was thinking of you and Cheryl, and got some little Sekas painted canvas fobs - with ladybugs. But haven't confirmed if they should go in a "squishy" to send north.

're really, really cute. e