needle for beading

[nikecam]

i have a small gail bussi project that just needs a few beads to finish it. i bought petite beads to match the stitching size. we tested a 28 needle in the store and it worked fine. my 28 needles though will not pass through the bead. the eye is rounder i suppose.

i haven't searched very hard yet but what size needle should i get for beading and do i where from? i don't remember seeing anything smaller in the xs aisle at micheals. i haven't been back to my local xs store to ask them. i may also just ask them to let me borrow the needle that we know goes through but i didn't know if that was tacky or not!

[Lessa54]

Hi nikecam

What you need is a beading needle. They're super fine and usually very long needles that fit easily through the holes of beads. I'm not an expert on sizing, but something like a size 10 beading needle should work fine. Sew and so in the UK sell them here

Or if you're in the USA, 123 stitch does them here

I would think that your local store should sell beading needles too.

[nikecam]

i thought i had heard about a "beading" needle. i see by the links (thank you) that the holes on the beading needle are no wider than the shaft. i will look at michaels and my local xs shop before ordering online. i really love the instant gratification of shopping that online shopping doesn't afford me!

[Granny]

Michaels carries beading needles in the bead aisle. They're a whole different kettle of fish than embroidery/tapestry needles. I used to bead and then discovered the needles were perfect for hand pieing for the quilting side of me. Make sure you have a needle threader to thread the needles because the eye is so tiny there seems no other way to get mine threaded.

[nikecam]

thanks granny. i figured i would have to venture the dark side of michaels. i just hate going in there any way but that side of the store seems so silly to me. i like (as much as possible) the stitching and art work side of the room!

[Mabel Figworthy]

a little late, but can I add that I've found ordinary beading needles to be very long to work with -- applique beading needles (Mill Hill does them, and you can buy them from Sew and So in the UK) are much shorter, and i find them easier to use

[~threadbear~]

Oh Mabel, that's answered a problem I was having. The beading needles are lovely and thin, perfect for the beads, but just too long for me!
I shall try and look into these ones you mention now.
Thank you!

[nikecam]

i bought a pack of beading needles from my xs store (bypassing michaels!) but i have yet to try them. even if they are too long, it should be ok, as i think there are just a handful of stitches necessary. maybe 10 or so.

thanks for the tips!