Where do you get your embroidery needles? I’ve often been frustrated by the fact that most craft and sewing stores just don’t carry a good selection of decent hand-embroidery needles. When I do find the size I want, they’re usually included in multi-packs, so I end up paying for a bunch of needles I’ll never use. Thanks to online ordering, that doesn’t happen anymore!
I’ve ordered embroidery needles from Wendy Schoen Designs – her needle portfolios (especially the purple) provide a good selection of needles for hand embroidery.
But I found a source I like better – Colonial Needle. I ordered a whole array of needles from them this summer for our different guild projects. The selection is fantastic (surely the best I’ve ever seen), the prices on the products and shipping are reasonable, and the service was excellent. They carry the prominent brands of fine English needles: Richard Hemming, John James, Mary Arden, Thomas & Sons. If you like beading, you can’t beat Mary Arden’s beading needles, which come in many sizes, but the teeny ones are great – and if you’re looking for tiny milliners for bullions, you’ll find that the Richard Hemming company produces every size from 1 – 11, or you can buy packs of assorted sizes.
Remember, needles are numbered like wire – the higher the number, the smaller the shaft of the needle.
So if you’re looking for hand embroidery needles, check out Colonial Needle Company. You’re sure to find what you’re looking for!
Thank you for posting this. I haven’t realized until recently that ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ in needles.
Thanks for the link to Colonial Needle. I’ve tagged the site for future reference.
Oh gracias por esta sugerencia voy a revisasr… si ud.. no consigue agujas en su ciudad, que quedara para mi en esta selva…
¡De nada!
I’m glad you all like this source for needles – actually, I’m getting ready to place another order! I have two #10 crewel needles left. That’s a shortage…!
Hi Mary, I recently completed a crewel embroidery piece that I worked on Legacy linen with Appleton crewel wool. I was using a gold eye needle (not sure which brand) which left black marks on the linen where there wasn’t embroidery. I’m usually very careful about piercing the linen in random places but it happened in a few places and I don’t understand why. Have you ever had this happen? Thanks, kathy
Sounds like maybe the needle oxidized while still in the fabric? I’ve not had it happen, either. I hope it comes off! I don’t usually anchor my needle in the embroidery fabric when I’m not working. I normally take it off the thread and stick it in a pincushion… only because I’m prone to poking myself with needles left hither and yon. Not sure how to fix the problem, especially if it’s in among the embroidered areas.