Top 5 Embroidery Needles Every Sewist Should Know About
Contents
1. Get to Know Tapestry Needles
2. Embracing Chenille Needles
3. Exploring Crewel Needles
4. Dive into Milliners Needles
5. Master Quilting Between Needles
- Understanding Quilting Between Needles
- Pros of Quilting Between Needles
- Choosing Quilting Between Needles
Embroidery is a world full of vibrant threads, intricate patterns, and, of course, needles. With the right selection of embroidery needles, you can transform a simple piece of fabric into a work of art. Today, we're going to explore the top five types of embroidery needles that every sewist should have in their toolkit. So, let's thread the needle and get started!
1. Get to Know Tapestry Needles
First up on our list are tapestry needles. Known for their large eye and blunt point, these needles are primarily used for needlepoint, counted cross stitch, and embroidery on canvas. Let's dig deeper into their history, why you should use them, and how to choose the right one for your project.
History of Tapestry Needles
Contrary to their name, tapestry needles were not originally used for tapestry work. They date back to the Middle Ages when monks and nuns used them to create ecclesiastical textiles. Unlike sharp needles, tapestry needles were preferred because they could pass through the fabric's weave without piercing it—ideal for preserving the integrity of the religious garments.
Why Use Tapestry Needles?
There are several good reasons to reach for a tapestry needle when working on your embroidery project. First, the large eye makes threading easy, especially if you're using a thicker thread or multiple strands. Second, the blunt point ensures that you won't accidentally split your thread or damage your fabric. Lastly, the longer length of tapestry needles provides better control for your stitches.
Choosing Your Tapestry Needle
When choosing a tapestry needle, consider the fabric and thread you'll be using. For heavy fabrics or thicker threads, go for a larger needle. Conversely, if you're working with delicate fabric or fine thread, a smaller needle is the way to go. Remember, the right needle can make your sewing experience smoother, more efficient, and even more enjoyable.
2. Embracing Chenille Needles
Next up are the Chenille needles. If you're a fan of working with heavy, dense threads or ribbons in your embroidery, then these needles are your go-to. They have a long eye, similar to a tapestry needle, but with a sharp point. Let's take a closer look at what they are, their benefits, and how to pick the right one.
What are Chenille Needles?
Chenille needles are a type of embroidery needle that's super versatile. They have a long, large eye for easy threading, and a sharp point which allows them to pierce through heavy fabric with ease. They're named after the French word for caterpillar because of the thick, fuzzy thread they were initially designed to handle.
Benefits of Using Chenille Needles
There are several reasons why chenille needles are a great addition to your needle collection. Their large eye allows for easy threading of thicker threads or multiple strands, while their sharp point is perfect for piercing through heavier fabrics. Plus, they're available in a variety of sizes, making them suitable for a wide range of projects.
How to Select the Right Chenille Needle
When choosing a chenille needle for your project, size is the key factor. Remember, the larger the number, the smaller the needle. So, if you're working with heavy fabric or thick thread, go for a smaller number like a size 18. For delicate fabrics or fine thread, a larger number like a size 24 might be better. Just like with tapestry needles, finding the right chenille needle can elevate your embroidery work to the next level.
3. Exploring Crewel Needles
As different as embroidery needles can be, they all share a common purpose - to help you create beautiful and intricate embroidery work. One such needle is the crewel needle. Let's find out why it's a must-have in your sewing kit.
Introduction to Crewel Needles
Ever heard of crewel embroidery? Well, it's named after the needle used to create it - the crewel needle. This type of embroidery needle is similar to a sharp needle but with a longer eye, allowing for multiple thread passes. Crewel needles are perfect for almost any type of embroidery work, including the famous Jacobean crewel work.
Advantages of Crewel Needles
So, what makes crewel needles so special? Their medium-sized eye is a perfect fit for embroidery threads, ensuring smooth threading. Also, their sharp point comes in handy when you need to make quick, clean pierces through the fabric. Crewel needles are mighty fine tools for creating all those intricate stitches, don't you think?
Selecting Crewel Needles
Choosing the right crewel needle is like picking the perfect pair of shoes. It needs to be the right fit. The size of the needle should match the thread and fabric you're using. A thicker fabric or thread may require a larger needle (smaller number), while a thinner fabric or thread may be best suited to a smaller needle (larger number). Always remember, the right needle can make your embroidery journey more enjoyable and less of a hassle.
4. Dive into Milliners Needles
If you've been exploring the world of embroidery needles, you've probably come across the term 'Milliners Needles'. Also known as 'Straw Needles', these are a favorite among sewists who enjoy making decorative stitches. Let's dive deeper into this type of embroidery needle and why it's a must-have in your toolkit.
The World of Milliners Needles
Milliners needles are unique in their design. They have a round eye and a shaft that are the same width. This special feature makes them ideal for bullion knots or any stitch that wraps thread around the needle. These needles have a sharp point and are long, which makes them fantastic for making straight stitches in hand sewing and embroidery.
Why Choose Milliners Needles?
Why add another type of needle to your sewing kit? Well, milliners needles offer quite a few benefits. Their length and sharp point make it easy to insert and pull through fabric, reducing the strain on your hands. The equal width of the eye and shaft makes it easier to create perfect bullion knots and other wrapped stitches. And let's not forget how their length helps in making straight and neat stitches. Sounds like a winner, doesn't it?
Picking the Perfect Milliners Needle
Here's a quick tip: choose your milliners needle based on the type of thread you're using. If you're working with a thicker thread like pearl cotton, go for a larger needle. For finer threads, a smaller needle would work best. After all, the right needle can be the difference between a laborious project and a seamless sewing experience. So, are you ready to give milliners needles a try?
5. Master Quilting Between Needles
We're now going to wander into the realm of quilting — a land where precision, patience, and passion reign supreme. In this domain, a special type of embroidery needle holds court: the Quilting Between Needle. So, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of why this needle is the king of the quilting world.
Understanding Quilting Between Needles
Quilting Between Needles, commonly known as 'Betweens', are the go-to needles for quilters worldwide. They are short, sturdy, and have a small, round eye. The short length allows for precise control while the round eye ensures easy threading. Plus, their sturdy nature means they can go through multiple layers of fabric without bending or breaking.
Pros of Quilting Between Needles
So, why should you choose Quilting Between Needles for your quilting projects? Well, their short length gives you better control over your stitches. This means you can create small, even stitches with ease. The small, round eye is perfect for threading and reduces friction on the thread, preventing breakages. And, of course, their sturdy build can handle the rigors of quilting without bending out of shape. Sounds like a pretty good deal, right?
Choosing Quilting Between Needles
When it comes to choosing Quilting Between Needles, the size matters. For finer fabrics and threads, you'll want to opt for a smaller needle. Conversely, for heavier fabrics and threads, a larger needle will do the trick. Remember, it's all about ensuring a smooth quilt-making journey. So, are you ready to master the art of quilting with Quilting Between Needles?
If you're excited to learn more about embroidery and want to explore new techniques, don't miss the workshop 'Creative Ways to Use Traditional Hand Embroidery Techniques' by Irem Yazici. In this workshop, you'll discover innovative ways to use traditional embroidery methods and transform your sewing projects into unique, eye-catching masterpieces.