what gauge needle?

[babyfairie]

Ahhhh I hadn't thought about this happening and I'm all sad suddenly, my needle has just about had it....I don't know if I just sweat too much while holding it or what but all the coating on it is like gone and its making irritating scraping noises when it goes through the fabric and it's the only needle I have as it came with my kit.....time to go buy a new one umm what gauge needle would be best for 14 ct aida?

Sorry to be a huge dork having a stitching crisis I'm just brand new to this still and buying extra needles didn't occur to me when I had the money eep!

[fccs]

Ahhhh I hadn't thought about this happening and I'm all sad suddenly, my needle has just about had it....I don't know if I just sweat too much while holding it or what but all the coating on it is like gone and its making irritating scraping noises when it goes through the fabric and it's the only needle I have as it came with my kit.....time to go buy a new one umm what gauge needle would be best for 14 ct aida?

Sorry to be a huge dork having a stitching crisis I'm just brand new to this still and buying extra needles didn't occur to me when I had the money eep!

I think the general "rule" is a size 24 tapestry needle would be for 14 count, but I use 26 for anything from 14 to 18 count and 28 for 28 and 32 count. You don't want the needle to be so small it falls through the holes, but also not so big that it makes the holes between fabric threads bigger. Maybe you can find a pack of assorted sizes (24/26/28?) and you can test drive each one.

No worries about being a dork in a stitching crisis...we all have our issues.

[Rose]

I know that many say to us a 24 on 14 count but I like fccs use a 26 I find it more comfortable.

No need to worry about asking question that is why we are here.

[karen4bells]

I know that many say to us a 24 on 14 count but I like fccs use a 26 I find it more comfortable.

No need to worry about asking question that is why we are here.

I totally agree!!

[Allyn]

I agree with the previous posters -- #24 is usually recommended for 14ct, but I would go #26. I use #28 for everything, but I rarely stitch on anything other than 18, 25, 28 or 32ct. I feel like #24 opens the holes in 14ct aida too much, but I must be in the minority thinking that because it's the recommended needle size from most other sources.

I've heard folks complain that the needles that come in the kits are not the best quality, so if you get a pack of decent quality needles, they should last much longer. I have a pack of #28 needles I'd be happy to send you if you think they might be useful. I have no problem using #28 needles on 14ct.

[richardandtracy]

I've tried #24, #26 and a 'small #26'. I tend to feel the #24 is too big anyway, and don't like it even on 14ct, preferring #26. The #26 was good on the 2 over 2 on 32ct for my last project, and I like the 'small #26' needles I have on my current 2 over 1 on 28ct project. I suspect the 'small #26' needles are actually #28 needles put in a #26 packet. They are just the right size for what I'm doing at the moment and I shall be getting some proper #28 needles to complement them soon.

Regards,

Richard

[Allyn]

...a 'small #26'. ...

I haven't heard of a 'small' #26. Do you mean a petite? #26 refers to how fat the needle is. Petite means it's shorter than regular length needles. Usually, a petite needle is a #22, #24, or #26 that is the length of a #28, although I have some #28 petites that are really short.

[richardandtracy]

No. I think it was a #28 wrongly put in a #26 packet. All 6 were the same size, but are about 80% the length of the other #26's I have, and use a slightly smaller diameter wire.

Regards,

Richard