Needle Brand

[Roland]

What brand of needles do you use for cross stitch.

I love Anchor, gold-plated, size 24.

But I have not been able to find them anywhere for months. I did find one lone pack size 26 and bought it, but I prefer the 24.

I picked up some DMC needles and they catch on the material. Not smooth at all. I picked up another brand, and the eye is not clear. I cannot get any threader through.

NOTE TO MOD: if there is another thread about this, please let me know (pm?) if you join it. I did look, but didn’t find anything.

[karen4bells]

By far my favorite needles to stitch with are ones that I recently found via a few different facebook pages. They are Pat Carson Needles and are pricier than most others, but definitely are worth it!! They last a really long time, and are so much easier to thread and they glide through the fabric nicer than any I have ever used. They cost about $1 per needle, and there are a few stitching places that sell them--also available in #24, #26 and #28. One of the facebook pages that sell them is Stitches in Heaven https://www.facebook.com/groups/1512241715491479/

[fccs]

I might have to try the Pat Carson needles that Karen likes.

My favorites are Piecemakers and Bonin, size 26 or 28. Even the Bonin, though, sometimes have rough eyes. I also use John James and sometimes use the needles that come with a kit. Some kits have better needles than others.

[poppy]

In the UK, I find the John James ones good to stitch with.

[Roland]

By far my favorite needles to stitch with are ones that I recently found via a few different facebook pages. They are Pat Carson Needles and are pricier than most others, but definitely are worth it!! They last a really long time, and are so much easier to thread and they glide through the fabric nicer than any I have ever used. They cost about $1 per needle, and there are a few stitching places that sell them--also available in #24, #26 and #28. One of the facebook pages that sell them is Stitches in Heaven https://www.facebook.com/groups/1512241715491479/

I’ve been paying $3-$4 for a pack of 4. But that’s Canadian dollars and no delivery charge.

Never heard of Pat Carson.

I’ve heard of John James. Might order them, if I order something else with it.

[Squirrel]

I use mostly Piecemakers needles which can be hard to thread at times though. I also use John James Petite needles, very useful if you are at the end of a colour and just a short bit of thread the petite lets you do a couple more stitches!!!

[lilacwine]

I always John James needles

[wendywombat]

I like Bohin needles. They are French and so smooth. I also like Good Gold needles...the cheap ones are

[richardandtracy]

I have no idea.

They're #26 and come in pink card display pouches with 6 per pouch. Get them from our local Dunelm Mill. Why them? Well, they're about the only local shop to stock Tapestry Needles. Thus far, in 7 years, I have broken 1, lost 1 and am using 2. I bought 30 for parking, but it didn't work out for me, so I'm probably sorted for the next few decades.

Regards,

Richard.

[Ciors]

I've recently been using Milward needles in size 26. They don't squeak through my Aida like the DMC ones do. Both I got from Hobbycraft.

[Serinde]

I suspect I don't spend enough on needles, and there are a few manufacturers mentioned here that I might try. I use whatever my stockist has available. Usually Milward, but occasionally John James, if I'm embroidering and need sharps, chenilles or similar. I've heard that people swear by Piecemakers, and Mary Corbet has reviewed needles from Japan, although they are seriously expensive. My problem is that I don't know when to change over and get a new needle. I have some needles which are practically as old as I am, but they still are smooth (even if not entirely quite straight anymore...)

[Mabel Figworthy]

As I buy JJ crewel and chenille needles for my kits, I tend to use them myself as well; for Hardanger I use gold-plated tapestry needles which I bought in bulk when my supplier said she was going to stop doing them.

I've also got some short (quilting?) needles which I got in The Netherlands in three sizes, they work well in small hoops where you haven't got a lot of room to manoeuvre, but I don't know the brand.

And recently I got some Tulip needles to try out, having seen them recommended a lot. I like them, but I'm not convinced they are really worth the money (nearly £1 a needle - definitely a luxury!)

Edited: the Tulip needles are the Japanese needles Serinde mentioned.