Favorite Hand Needles?

** Now you have the convenience of purchasing one handy package of eight of the most frequently used needles for heirloom embroidery. $18.00 (A $22.50 value) Pink Portfolio Includes sizes #9 and #10 Crewels, #7 Betweens, #7 Long Darner, #10, #11, & #12 Sharps, and #26 Tapestry, plus a 20-page mini booklet identifying needle sizes and uses. **

That took care of that stash need for years and years. Not affiliated but Wendy's stitching is exquisite. Polly

On the current needle-turn appliqué project, I'm using #10 straw needles. I'd like to use something a bit finer, but have to be able to see the eye to thread them :). I've also used #9 or #10 sharps; they're not quite as long as the straw needles, but longer than the betweens I use for hand quilting. Some fabric is also harder to push the needle through. I've found that batiks are often more tightly woven than other fabrics and are harder to get the needle through and the edges don't turn under quite as easily. If you're trying to hand appliqué something that has been fused, I think you'll find that that is a bit harder to stitch through, too.

Julia > Ok, so I'm learning applique. So far I like it, but I'm sure I'll

I like a Milliners Needle. Thinner ,but adaptable for most things. I have even used them for Appliqué.

For hand applique I love Jenna Kimball straw needles. I use a size 10 but they come in other sizes that you might prefer.

I was doing some applique yesterday and clearly I was distracted. I was having a hard time of it and my finger was getting sore and it seemed really hard to push the needle through the fabric. It did not glide through AT ALL. Then I looked at the needle. How an embroidery needle got in my applique stuff I will never know, but it solved that mystery.

marcella

brain freeze lately, no, more of a meltdown with the temps here, so cant recall which needles i prefer. straw needles are handy. i've often used whichever needle i grab first and never had any issues i can recall. if you're in mid-sewing and the needle is being persnickity and you cant be bothered switching needles just then, try this. .. put the needle up to your scalp and drag it thru the hair in the direction the hair is going, so down if its down and back if thats the way it is worn today...just so you dont mess up your hair doing it or draw blood, eeeeek. it will gather some of the natural oils in your hair and lubricate the needle enough to slide thru the fabric. i did this with diaper pins when i had babies and it worked a treat, even with those fat pins thru that dense fabric. just a quick thot. take pix and post them so we can see what you're doing. we love to drool a bit. j.

"Dannielle" wrote... Ok, so I'm learning applique. So far I like it, but I'm sure I'll like it better using a good needle instead of a regular sewing needle. I'm finding it very hard to push the needle through the fabric!

Tell me what your favorite applique needle is! What about your favorite piecing needle? And your favorite quilting needle? These are all hand needles - not machine!

Dannielle

ya go. just missed a c in her last name spelling. :)j.

"Polly Esther" wrote... Which needle works best changes for me - even ** Now you have the convenience of purchasing one handy package of eight of the most frequently used needles for heirloom embroidery. $18.00 (A $22.50 value) Pink Portfolio Includes sizes #9 and #10 Crewels, #7 Betweens, #7 Long Darner, #10, #11, & #12 Sharps, and #26 Tapestry, plus a 20-page mini booklet identifying needle sizes and uses. **

That took care of that stash need for years and years. Not affiliated but Wendy's stitching is exquisite. Polly

Thank you, Jeanne. I wondered why Wendy's website wouldn't change colors when I wrote it. I used to love watching her on Martha Pullen's "Sew Beautiful" tv show. Polly

"jeanne-nzlstar*" there ya go. just missed a c in her last name spelling. :)

Dannielle, I'm absolutely sold on Roxanne needles for hand quilting. Sorry can't help with the other applications but the Roxanne's are a dream. I use #11 and #12 betweens. MUST use the Roxanne threader if you're using the #12's thought - those eyes are reallllly tiny! I do find that the #11's have a longer life - i.e., the eyes don't snap off quite so easily when the thimble slips. I also use a metal Thimblelady thimble. I originally bought one in plastic to check for size and since it fit and worked so well after I'd worn a hole through the plastic one I bought the metal. Not too pricey if I remember correctly - @ $25. And the Roxanne needles are (I think) under $10. for 60 needles in the tube. Definitely a value in my opinion.

Good luck.

Kim in NJ

j.

"AuntK" wrote... Dannielle, I'm absolutely sold on Roxanne needles for hand quilting. Sorry can't help with the other applications but the Roxanne's are a dream. I use #11 and #12 betweens. MUST use the Roxanne threader if you're using the #12's thought - those eyes are reallllly tiny! I do find that the #11's have a longer life - i.e., the eyes don't snap off quite so easily when the thimble slips. I also use a metal Thimblelady thimble. I originally bought one in plastic to check for size and since it fit and worked so well after I'd worn a hole through the plastic one I bought the metal. Not too pricey if I remember correctly - @ $25. And the Roxanne needles are (I think) under $10. for 60 needles in the tube. Definitely a value in my opinion. Good luck. Kim in NJ

Dannielle wrote:

Good for you Dannielle!! I love applique and use a straw needle #11. Also use silk thread. Like the needle even better when I get my very own little "bend" in it. :) Good luck and it takes practice. lyn

Good for you Danielle!! i love, love, love applique!

I use different needles and different threads, mostly silk and cotton. depends on the fabric. i've used Bohn's #7 Darners/Resprisers, #10 Dritz Applique sharps, Wrights #10 gold eye basting needles, and John James #3/9 Milliners.

have a lot of fun!

amy in CNY

I like silk thread, too. I use the 100-weight YLI. I have only one color

- kind of a taupe -- & I use it for everything. It just sort of melts into the fabric, so it isn't noticeable. I do find, though, that I have to knot the thread onto the needle or I am constantly re-threading the needle. I use a needle threader, pull a loop of thread through the eye, put the tip of the needle through the loop and pull down so that I get a half-hitch knot at the base of the needle. The thread is so fine that I never notice the knot when stitching. Or sometimes I put the end of the thread through the eye of the needle and tie a square knot at the end of the needle.

Julia in MN

100 wt, Julia? Cool. I'll have to try that. Polly

"Julia in MN" I like silk thread, too. I use the 100-weight YLI. I have only one color

yes, 100 wt. It's very fine, about like a hair. But it's really nice for hand appliqué. And one spool lasts for a long time.

Julia > 100 wt, Julia? Cool. I'll have to try that. Polly

I really like Roxanne sharps, but the eye is too small. Way too small. It's even too small for a needle threader.. I get frustrated but I do love the way they glide through the fabric. I ordered some John James from Connecting Threads. My first order with them, I hope they come soon.

Sherry

What is a straw needle? What makes it different from sharps or betweens?

Sherry

Let me impress you with the notes from my little needle guide. Better yet, let me impress you with the joy that I can 'find' the little needle guide since nothing here is where it used to be. "Milliners needles are more commonly referred to as Straw needles because of their extremely long shaft which resembles straw. The longer length allows the stitcher to sew through a wide thickness of fabrics such as in doll making, or allows for added wraps, such as in bullion making. Milliners (straw) are most recognizable by their long length, round eyes and sharp points." HTH, Sherry. Polly

"Sherry" What is a straw needle? What makes it different from sharps or betweens?

Sherry

On Wed, 4 Feb 2009 08:20:24 -0600, Dannielle wrote (in article ):

I haven't found a favorite needle yet. I have a stash of different kinds and brands and I'm just trying them all until I find one I like.

Maureen