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Hi everyone,
I have a few questions for you:

- I've never done any beading and I have a project in the pipeline that requires it. I looked into beading needles but they come in several sizes. Which one should I buy?

- Floss storage: for those of you that use bobbins, are there any problems caused by the kinks they make? (thread tangling, weird peaks on the cross, etc...)

Thanks!

I've used bobbins for ever. Just make sure you don't wind your thread on them too tightly and you shouldn't have any problems with crimping. I think beading needles are a personal preference. I recently bought some new ones (to me) by DRITZ and I think they are the best I have had. The eyes are a good size and they easily fit through the petite beads.

I believe the bead needles I have are a size 10.
And I use stitchbows so can't help you out with the kinks in bobbin floss.

I have used bobbins since I started stitching years ago and have never had any problem with kinking.
I don't do beads so can't help you there.

Carole

I have beading needles which I think are a size 10 - but I've also used a size 28 tapestry needle (the size I use to stitch anyway) when beading, but of course it depends on the size of your bead! I've also used bobbins since forever and never had any issues with kinking.

I have no idea what guage my beading needles are... I'm absolutely no help there.. I don't use bobbins anymore as well.. but when I did I didn't have any issues with crimping either..
Faith

I love my bobbins and have never had a problem with and crimping.

I just used a size 28 embroidery needle it worked quite well.

For standard seed beads (size 11) I generally use a size 28 tapestry needle, although that means that some beads won't pass over it and I have to put them aside for later or change to a smaller needle. Most of them go without a problem though.

For the standard seed beads that won't pass over a 28 tapestry needle and for petite seed beads (size 15) I use a size 10 beading needle or sometimes a size 12 or 13; they are very fragile and very sharp, though, which can be a pain as they pierce the fabric threads.

Tip: If you go for beading needles, get "bead embroidery needles" (sometimes called "short beading needles"), as they are shorter and more manageable than what it usually sold as "beading needles".

thanks for the advice everyone!

Mabel Figworthy wrote:
For the standard seed beads that won't pass over a 28 tapestry needle and for petite seed beads (size 15) I use a size 10 beading needle or sometimes a size 12 or 13; they are very fragile and very sharp, though, which can be a pain as they pierce the fabric threads.

They're also a pain when you stab yourself with them because they're so much longer than regular needles!

I was able to get a pack of beading needles which had one each of sizes 10-15. It's worked quite well for me as have a range of needles to suit whatever I'm doing at the time.