uh oh, brainwave - curved needles

Claudia,

Coll>Soory girls

Claudia, Check for upholstry supplies when searching. I do have a curved needle for that purpose. I haven't used it for basting the sandwich together yet so I can't speak about it's good/bad points for that application. Frankly hadn't thought about using it for that since I don't thread baste all that often. I'll try to keep this in the memory banks for future. The curved needle that I do have is a fairly substantial sized needle (sorry - no specifics as to size) so not sure if that might be something worth thinking about since quilting needles are typically fairly fine. I wouldn't think it would matter too much particularly if you're washing the quilt afterwards.

Good luck with your search!

Kim in NJ

Sure. They sell several different sizes of curved needle for upholstry and sail making. They tend to have a stronger curve than suture needles. Of course you could just go to a scientific or veterinary supply place and buy suture needles. I haven't any experience with them, but if they will sew skin I see no reason why they would not sew fabric.

NightMist

You can get them in regular sewing shops. Often sold for doll making - if you get craft items but not upholstery :-)

Definitely easier than using straight needles.

Hanne

claudia wrote:

Claudia, i always use a curved needle for tying quilts. i just cant get the hang of a large straight needle. i got mine at TSWLTH. i think they came in a package of 3 and were very reasonable. i may even have used a coupon.

amy in CNY

I've got a few of them, they always seem to turn up in kits of "assorted needles for any purpose imaginable" and they're the ones that get used least.

Where we have to worry is when you start taking your hobby into work and somebody wakes up with your signature quilted on their abdomen.

==== j a c k at c a m p i n . m e . u k === ==== Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland == mob 07800 739 557 CD-ROMs and free stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, and Mac logic fonts

Curved needles definitely are personal pereference. Some of my Project Linus volunteers love to use the curved needles to tie our quilts (we use crochet thread, not yarn, for tying). Others absolutely hate the curved needles and refuse to use them.

So, try it out and see which camp you're in!

Donna in SW Idaho

hmmmm, what a good idea. how come we've not heard that spoken of around the frame here before that i recall anyhow. i wonder where my curved needles are, hmmmm. thanks, Claudia. j.

"claudia" wrote... Soory girls I had a brainwave. MAybe this is professional deformation, but I suddenly had a thought as I was preparing the sandwich on Lucia's quilt. I am using thread basting and a long needle. I use the kwik klip thingy to raise the tip of the needle as it comes out of the fabric. And that's when it hit me; couldn't I use a curved needle and a needle holder as I do when I do surgery, to thread baste the sandwich? It would definitely be easier on the fingers. I know I can bring home boxes of surgical thread from work, and I have thread holders too. But, maybe there is a curved needle that you can attach your ordinary basting thread to. Anyone? Preparing the sandwich is NOT my favorite part of quilting. In fact, I really don't like it. I have the safety pins, but don't really like those either. I prefer thread basting because it holds the whole shebang together better when it comes to machine quilting. Ok, I know, there are thoughts and preferences that range from a to z. So, anyone have anything to say about thread basting with a curved needle and where (online) can I acquire needles suitable for this?

Thanks Claudia

Like you, I am not crazy about the basting part of quilting. I discovered what works best for me is the basting spray ahesive (my spelling is very poor today). I find there is enough flexability when I start to do the actural quilting that I can move or reposition the sandwiched pieces with ease. Works great and my quilts come out perfect everytime. No pins to remove or hand basted threads to remove. julia