Silly question about needles

[coolpenguin]

Hello, all.

I have a silly question about needles. How long do you tend to use the same needle(s)? I know this may sound silly but I'm curious. I opened up a new package of needles yesterday and I was amazed at how sharp the needle was! I'm guessing I'm using the same needle for too long.

Also, is there an easy way to distinguish needle sizes when they aren't labeled? I was given dozens of needles by ladies in our church sewing group but they aren't labeled. I'm guessing I will just have to compare them to labeled needles.

Thanks!

[Leroy_B]

No expert here on needles but primarily use blunt tip needles for regular cross stitching. A sharp tip needle would work well for a tight clothed fabric I'm guessing 28 count and higher. Also a sharp tip for special needle work such as a bullion rose as an example or even backstitch. Pretty sure Scarlet Quince's web site would have more information about the preferred needle to cloth. Tho some have a favorite that they always feel comfortable with even with a little bend to the needle. If a needle has a bur or a metal plated coating or rust then I'd be sure it's felt as well as seen and not worth holding onto. I just picked up some gold plated needles and look forward to using them tho at time I'd wish the eye of the needle is larger to thread but on the other hand it widens the needle to pass cloth that could expand the material. Washing would pull it back in place. There's needles with and easy thread by sliding it up the needle and catches in the eye. Ebay has a large assortment up for bids or buy it now. As far as size of each needle. I have a tool known as calipers used to measure down to 1/1000 of an inch I bought at Harbor Freight on sale for $6.99 on sale. I'd measure each one and make note. Later I'd research each diameter and compare online of the gauge of needle in inches or millimeters. Organizing each needle is a WIP to build an organized compartment draw for safe storage.

Oh and sure many would agree, there's never a silly question. You happen to bring up a good question that many have had the thought cross their mind and new to the hobby will learn a new tip.

[BizzieLizzie]

Until it generally gets a bit manky, i.e. the coating comes off, it gets bent or the eye starts shredding the floss.

One of the UK XS magazines (Cross Stitch Gold, perhaps?) prints a diagram of two or three needle sizes towards the back of each issue so you can measure your needle against them. I'm sure somewhere on the net there'll be a needle size guide but I've done a quick Google search and couldn't see one.

[Oriettait]

ha ha love Leroy technical know how! using a calipers is a great idea if you have one handy but most likely not
I think comparing them to packaged once will be the easier way, I actually think I have somewhere some sort of a ruler that you can use to tell needle size, I acquired it together with a bunch of floss on ebay, gotta found it now!
As for how long I use a needle, usually until it bend, the eyes get squeezed and does not thread anymore, it start fraying the floss or it get rusty or just harder to slide through the fabric.
That was before I bought a pack of Piecemaker needle. I have used the first one since September and it is still in perfect condition! It became my favorite needle.

[starshine123102]

I use my needle until I break it or lose it. I lost one of my needles the other day on either my couch in the living room carpet the other day and have not succeeded in finding it......

[Leroy_B]

I use my needle until I break it or lose it. I lost one of my needles the other day on either my couch in the living room carpet the other day and have not succeeded in finding it......

Often said "needle in a hay stack." Best way to find it, a magnet. Or another alternative, burn the hay. (not the couch...lol)

[rcperryls]

I use my needles until they break, bend or get lost (the rug under my chair gets vacuumed more than any other rug in the house). Since I keep my needles threaded (unless I use all or most of the thread in it stitching) I have a lot of needles and despite my best efforts get mixed up. They last a long time but again, its not like I am using one over and over again.
and as Leroy says, "No such thing as a silly question"

Carole

[Heidi]

I use my needles until the coating comes off or they break. I tend to loss my needles in the couch. My DH got one in the bum the other day But I have to be more careful moving forward with the little one when she starts grawling.

[MaggieM1750]

Like the others- I use it until its done. How long is that?? Not exactly sure. Generally, I can use the same needle through a project. I do smaller- mid sized projects- nothing like a fully stitched HAED/ SQ. During the "un-kitting" process my needle goes into a needle book. So I can't say how long it lasts because they get all mixed up once they go into the book. My needle book pages are numbered to try and keep sizes together.

I generally use 26's so I can feel the difference when I pick up a different sized needle. I too have seen a guide somewhere. From what I remembered- it wasn't just the diameter of a needle thats different. They are different length as well. But I can imagine that gets muddled by regulars and petites.. and each manufacturer has their own standard. I've never compared the length of a John James 26 to a Piecemakers 26.

And when I drop a needle- I don't pull a new one unless I know for sure that its been lost down the arm of my chair. I will search and search until I find it- hopefully not by stepping on it. I sweep my magnetic chart holder across my carpet until I hear the little *ting* that a needles been found. And like Carole- the carpet around my chair is vacuumed most often with all the snips of thread and fabric fluff.. and its the spot most used in my house.

[NeedleAndFork]

In a year of stitching I have yet to dispose of a needle. I usually have several on the go - based on how many empty packets I threw away recently, I've got 2 packs of 28s and 3 of 26s on the go, either in my needlebook, threaded and waiting to be used on my haed, or stuck on the magnet that's on my stitching. I do know that I don't have 12 (or is it 5 a pack making 10?) 28s though. I've lost a few somewhere and simply can't find them. Not good since I stitch on my bed most of the time.. I do have a few needles that have been delegated to 'rough use' because the eyes are fraying the floss, so when they reach that stage, they go on a separate page in my needlebook, regardless of what size they are. I use them when I am stitching with metallics so that the metallics don't ruin my still good needles.

I know of some people who use a new needle each day, and others who stitch for months if not a year with a single needle. Both those extremes boggle my mind! But then, I have atleast 2 dozen needles in regular rotation, so none of them are getting that heavy wear. Some are starting to get a bit bent, but they're all still usable. I suppose eventually I'll get rid of the most bent ones, but not until I decide which brand I want to buy and get make a bulk order.

[Rose]

It will depend on the needle I am using. I am a one needle worker and I use a needle until it breaks. I have had very few that I toss because they fray the thread but I have had a few and they go out when they start doing that. If I am using my favorite size which is a 26 then I can go for years before having to use a new one. The 26 size I do not tend to bend. Now if I have to use a 28 then I will only get about one project out of those as for some reason I tend to bend those. By the end of a project it will look like a banana. They get hard to thread when they do that so it goes out.

Now like I said in a different thread if I am traveling I tend to loose my needle so that makes the change a necessity. I have not taken my stitching on many road trips lately.

[Fizzbw]

Just to confuse the issue, I've noticed that some different brands of needle are not the same size, so two 28's can be completely different sizes.

I sometimes get a new needle out when I start a new big project, I use gold needles but seem to have the kind of hands that wear the gold off in about a day and a half, even very expensive ones....

Nxxx

[Allyn]

Hello, all.

I have a silly question about needles. How long do you tend to use the same needle(s)? I know this may sound silly but I'm curious. I opened up a new package of needles yesterday and I was amazed at how sharp the needle was! I'm guessing I'm using the same needle for too long. ...
Thanks!

I still have needles that I was using a decade ago. I'll use a needle until 1) it frays the thread, 2) the gold wears off, or 3) until it is lost or damaged. I use 28s very nearly all the time. I rarely bend one or break the eye -- I think I broke the eye in one needle in the last 18 months. I can't say I've ever had a needle get 'dull'. Tapestry needles are supposed to be dull. If you opened a new pack and they are sharp, are you sure they are tapestry needles?

[coolpenguin]

Thanks for the help!

Yes, i am using tapestry needles. I always bend size 28 but 26 and 24 last almost forever. I have favorite needles, though, that i always tend to grab.

[Stitchinkitty]

My needles seem to last forever.I do keep separate needles for metallics though as they burr the eye of the needle..I've never broken a needle but I have lost a few.

[Mabel Figworthy]

I use gold-plated ones but a relatively cheap variety (they work out at about 10p a needle) so the gold does wear off but not very quickly. I use them until the plating goes, then keep them in a bag to use for the Christmas Craft event as they are still OK for a small project
How long? well, definitely several projects -- I think I used 1 set of needles (one each of 22, 24, 26 and 28) for the whole of Floral Lace (18 smalls)

[coolpenguin]

When I work on a project using 28's I bend them like crazy and make sure I have several on hand.

[Reta]

I use mine till they break which is not often Love them when bent as better for running ends in

advice on sizes
http://www.crossstitchneedleshop.co.uk/ ... guide.html" target="_blank

[Mrsadm]

Here is a very useful article on types of needles

http://www.needlenthread.com/2011/08/ha ... edles.html" target="_blank

[curly sue]

My favorite needles have come out of kits from up to 20 or so years ago. They have a much nicer feel to them than any I have bought recently.

I had very poor results with 28's. I broke 2 at the eyes, and bent one beyond use. I think they may have been DMC, but I also have some Sullivan's, so I'm not sure.

Last time I went to the LNS, I bought a pack of John James 26's. I like the 26's for all around size. I am still on the first JJ and it is starting to fray my thread.