Ask Wendi: Let's Talk Needles

Liz recently asked me. . .

I have a question for you - what sort of needles do you use? I am experimenting with different sorts but haven't yet found the  perfect one. It looks like you are using six strands in your eyes video - which needle are using for that? And what would you recommend for three strands?

I'm going to use this as an opportunity to talk about needles in general. See that photo up there? I loaded it up in a large file size so you can click on it to see it closer - and that's a sewing bobbin in there for size reference. The three needles there are the ones I use most often (and they're the ones you receive in my stitch kits - unless you especially ask for all of one kind). Let's start from the top. . .

The top needle is a size 5 embroidery needle. That's pretty much the only size embroidery needle I ever use. Mostly I stitch with 4 strands of thread and it's perfect for that. But it doesn't hurt to use fewer, and if I concentrate really hard (and remove my glasses) I can get six strands through that eye. Technically you're supposed to change needle size according to the number of threads, but I don't really want to carry a full complement of needles with me wherever I go and lightning hasn't struck me yet for using the wrong size.

The middle needle is a size 4 sharp. That's a basic sewing needle. (Basic sewing needles are called sharps - just to confuse you. All the needles in the photo are sharp, but the middle one is actually called a sharp.) If you click on the photo to see it larger I hope you can see that the eye is much smaller than the embroidery needle. In a pinch you could maybe fit 3 strands of embroidery thread through there, but it would be tough. That said, I have used a sharp to embroider with 1-2 strands of thread and, again, lightning didn't strike me for using the wrong needle.

The bottom needle is a size 8 between or quilting needle. I have no idea why quilting needles are called betweens. I think it's just one more thing to scare away the people who opted out of home ec. Anyway - this is my preferred size for quilting, but I often recommend for beginning hand quilters to start with something larger and work their way down. I can stitch with a needle that's even shorter, but that makes my stitches smaller than I like. There's a school of thought that says the best quilting stitches are tiny little pinpricks - but I actually like to see a bit of stitch. This needle is also sharp, with a small eye like a sharp, but it's shorter and thinner. I've been known to sew with a between, but I never quilt with a sharp.

And now one more thing to confuse you - as needle sizes get bigger, the needles get smaller and vice versa. So a size 5 embroidery needle is smaller than a size 3. It's like wire gauges.

So there you go - an intro to the basic types of needles I use most often - along with many (many!) asides reminding you that you can use whatever kind of needle you like best. The needle police will not come and lock you up. :-)

Got any other sewing or embroidery questions? Send them to me here.

Happy Wednesday!

Best,
Wendi