Help with needles

[Lorna]

Can anyone help me as I am about to go insane with the needles I have bought they are DMC size 26 standard needles and keep breaking at the eye holes when I have used my LoRan needles threader with them (never had this before even with the needles in kits}. Can you please advise the best needles to get for someone in the UK to source and if getting gold needles is worth it? Sorry to rant but I have had enough as I bought a number of packs of these for my HAED and each pack has been like this.

[Reta]

I do not use a needle threader

I fold the silk over the needle Put between thumb and finger 9 times out of 10 threads 1st time

This is where i get mine from

http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/20-gold-pla ... 995177.htm" target="_blank

[MaggieM1750]

Heres a link to a newsletter Scarlet Quince did a few months ago comparing a few common needle brands. They used a 26.

http://www.scarletquince.com/blog/?p=612" target="_blank

I use John James, both regular and petites.
It wasn't an informed decision to use those- its just the brand my shop had.
I picked up a packet of Piecemakers to see if I notice a difference with another brand, but I haven't broken a needle lately so I haven't gotten into them yet.

I usually snap the eye of a needle at some point in the middle of a project. And like Reta- I don't use a threader either. Occasionally but not often. I make a tight loop and push that through the eye.

[karen4bells]

Maggie, I too had read that info a while back and actually decided to order a package of the 28 size bohin needles and love them. I must remember to order more of them soon, maybe some in the 26 size as well. I just wish JoAnn's carried them, but thank goodness I know that 123stitch does

[Squirrel]

Lorna I ditched DMC needles a year or so ago when I found that I was often left holding a needle with no thread after pulling it through the fabric. They seem to be very weak at the point of the needle and snap there after a while. I don't use a needle threader.

An interesting article I might just try the Bohn needles next time I order from 123stitch. Thanks for posting it.

[karen4bells]

I used to use DMC needles almost exclusively, until a year or two ago---then they started snapping at the eye without hardly any usage on them at all and I got fed up. I'm glad there are other options and that 123 stitch carries a nice selection too--they may cost a bit more, but they last a LOT longer!!

[MaggieM1750]

I just wish JoAnn's carried them, but thank goodness I know that 123stitch does

I am lucky to have needlework shops that I can go to, to get all the things I can't at JoAnns. Do you know if 123 sells them in bulk? I like the idea of a little baggie of 50 needles rather than a few cards of 5 or 6.

Since reading the newsletter again.. I am thinking that I should try out the much applauded Bonin needles. I don't know if either shop carries them- but I also haven't looked. Its been a while since I have bought them.. now watch, I'll snap 3 tonight!

[Lorna]

I have bought some platinum needles from Marie's cross stitch as they were 40% off,they are I think John James needles.Hope they will be ok, thanks for all your help.

[karen4bells]

I just wish JoAnn's carried them, but thank goodness I know that 123stitch does

I am lucky to have needlework shops that I can go to, to get all the things I can't at JoAnns. Do you know if 123 sells them in bulk? I like the idea of a little baggie of 50 needles rather than a few cards of 5 or 6.

Since reading the newsletter again.. I am thinking that I should try out the much applauded Bonin needles. I don't know if either shop carries them- but I also haven't looked. Its been a while since I have bought them.. now watch, I'll snap 3 tonight!

I don't know if they do sell them in bulk, but from what I'd seen I'd only spotted the packages of 5 or 6--I'd love to get a bulk package of 25 or 50 of them, they'd last me for ages!!

I hope you won't break any of your needles--I really do hate when that happens

[geekishly]

I use DMC needles all the time and haven't ever encountered that problem using my loran needle threader. Are you using the big end or the small end? If you're using the big end, that might be your problem. I use the small end with size 26 and higher needles and the big end with size 24 or lower.

I recently made the switch to gold needles but the DMC ones bend really easy. I might have to look into another brand next time I need more needles. I prefer the nickel plated ones, but with the winter air drying my skin out, the nickel ones were making my fingers crack and peel more than they already were. The gold ones haven't bothered me at all in that regard.

[pattiebelle]

I read that article and afterwards got the bohin needles (24's). I really like how smooth they are. I also have gold plated ones, that are very nice, but the bohins are the best...(imho)

[Lorna]

I use DMC needles all the time and haven't ever encountered that problem using my loran needle threader. Are you using the big end or the small end? If you're using the big end, that might be your problem. I use the small end with size 26 and higher needles and the big end with size 24 or lower.

I recently made the switch to gold needles but the DMC ones bend really easy. I might have to look into another brand next time I need more needles. I prefer the nickel plated ones, but with the winter air drying my skin out, the nickel ones were making my fingers crack and peel more than they already were. The gold ones haven't bothered me at all in that regard.

I use the small end of the threader and the dmc needles are breaking all the time I will never buy them again they are useless.

[geekishly]

That's a bummer. I gotta work through my stash of needles before shelling out on some more, but I don't think I'll be buying DMC needles again except for in the case of an emergency where I can't get to other brand needles.

[Mystonique]

I use the same threader and have never had a problem with the DMC's breaking (I also use 26 and 28, 24, 22 and 18).

However I prefer Bohin - similar price but seem to be coated better. I also use John James and tend to find they vary depending on batch. Maybe the DMC are the same because I think I've only bought 2 lots of those?

[Rose]

I use DMC all the time and use 26 and 28 the most I very seldom have an issue with breakage but I do tend to give them a bit of a bend. I use one needle until it breaks or bends to the point that it is no longer useful. Usually a couple of years. I sometimes get a pack that seems to break quite easily but not very often. The needle I am currently using is about 1 year old I think. I sometimes use a needle threader but not on a constant basis.

[mauveme]

I have been having terrible luck with neeedles, have tried several brands.
I used to like DMC but find the metal is softer that it used to be. The John James too are always breaking, or the eye warps or the whole thing bends.. 'I finally found a good sturdy needle, BOHIN from france. I get them at 123 stitch but I am sure the UK stores would carry them. (I use 26 as well)
I have been using the same needle for a month now , the others lasted me only two or three days before they broke or bent totall out of shape.

[BizzieLizzie]

[...] if getting gold needles is worth it?

I recently treated myself to some gold-plated needles from the Cross Stitch Guild (https://www.thecrossstitchguild.com/Shop.aspx?cat=131" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank). They're expensive but they are supposed to last longer than other gold-plated needles as the coating of gold is slightly thicker (you wouldn't expect a thick layer of gold to be cheap, would you? ). I got size 28 as I'm working 1x1 on 28ct and I have to say they are lovely to use. Since I got them a couple of weeks ago, I've used the same one for at least an hour a day (up to five hours a day at the weekends), constantly rethreading it (I'm a parker), and there is no sign of the gold starting to wear off.

I don't use a needle threader, though.

[Heidi]

I use DMC needles and don't have a problem. The last batch that I got was from http://www.sewalong.co.uk" target="_blank . They deliver quickly, they try to post it the same day you ordered them, so you should get then the next day.

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

I use size 28 gold plated needles too - which reminds me I must buy some more! I started off with a pack of 50, but I think I'm down to my last few which makes me wonder where they all are . People on the HAED BB also swear by Piecemaker needles which I've been meaning to try - they can be hard to get hold of in the UK but Cross Stitch Heaven stock them in a few sizes.

[Louise1262]

I've bought them from here http://www.crossstitchneedleshop.co.uk and they have been good so far.
All the sizes are stocked and they come in single packs and 10s, 50s, and 100s.

I don't use a threader but change the needle often - sometimes using 4 or 5 on a big project.




Louise