The humble needle is one of the most essential tools in your embroidery kit.
Choosing the right needle for your project can make all the difference in the world.
It will ensure that your stitches are even, your fabric remains undamaged, and your finished piece looks professional and polished.
In this guide, we’ll explore the various types of embroidery needles, their sizes, and their uses.
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Anatomy of an embroidery needle
Let’s take a moment to understand the basic anatomy of a needle.
An embroidery needle consists of three main parts:
- Eye: The hole at the top of the needle through which the thread is passed.
- Shaft: The long, slender body of the needle.
- Point: The sharp tip of the needle that pierces the fabric.
Embroidery needles come in various sizes, which are typically denoted by numbers.
The sizing system can be a biusing, as the numbers work in reverse: the larger the number, the smaller the needle.
For example, a size 1 needle is much thicker than a size 10 needle.
Types of embroidery needles
Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s explore the different types of embroidery needles and their uses.
Embroidery/crewel needles
Embroidery or crewel needles are the most common type of needle used for hand embroidery.
They have a medium-length eye, which makes threading easier, and a sharp point that easily pierces fabric.
These needles are suitable for most embroidery threads, including stranded cotton, pearl cotton, and crewel wool.
Sizes available: 1-12
Ideal projects and techniques:
General embroidery, crewel work, blackwork, whitework, and more.
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Tapestry needles
Tapestry needles have a large, elongated eye and a blunt point.
The large eye accommodates thicker threads or multiple strands, while the blunt point prevents the needle from piercing the fabric, making it ideal for counted thread techniques like cross-stitch and needlepoint.
Sizes available: 13-28
Ideal projects and techniques:
Cross-stitch, needlepoint, Hardanger, and other counted thread embroidery.
Dritz Tapestry Needles come in #16, #18, #20, and #22
Susan Bates Blunt Tapestry Needles
Susan Bates needles come in sizes #13 and #18
Chenille needles
Chenille needles have a large eye, similar to tapestry needles, but with a sharp point.
They are suitable for working with thicker threads and yarns, such as wool, ribbons, and chenille.
Sizes available: 13-26
Ideal projects and techniques:
Crewel embroidery, ribbon embroidery, stumpwork, and embroidery with thicker threads.
Milliner/straw needles
Milliner needles, also known as straw needles, have a small, round eye and a long, slender shaft.
The small eye allows for more wraps around the needle, making them ideal for creating French knots, bullion knots, and other wrapped stitches.
Sizes available: 1-12
Ideal projects and techniques:
Bullion knots, French knots, cast-on stitches, and other wrapped stitches.
Straw Milliners Hand Embroidery Needles (Etsy)
Beading needles
Beading needles have a very thin shaft and a small eye, making them perfect for attaching beads and sequins to embroidery projects.
The thin shaft allows the needle to pass through the small holes in beads without damaging them.
Sizes available: 10-15
Ideal projects and techniques:
Bead embroidery, attaching sequins, and embellishing embroidery with beads.
Curved needles
Curved needles have a unique, bent shape that allows them to reach tight spaces and create precise stitches.
They are phandyfor embroidering on curved surfaces or creating intricate designs.
Sizes available: 1-12
Uses in embroidery:
Embroidering on curved surfaces, creating intricate designs, and accessing hard-to-reach areas.
John James Curved Tapestry Needles (Etsy)
Specialty needles
In addition to the needles mentioned above, there are several specialty needles designed for specific embroidery techniques:
- Ribbon embroidery needles:
These needles have a large eye and a sharp point, making them suitable for threading and stitching with ribbon. - Punch needles:
Used for punch needle embroidery, these needles have a hollow shaft that holds the thread and creates loops on the fabric’s surface. - Leather needles:
Designed for embroidering on leather, these needles have a sharp, triangular point that pierces through the leather without tearing it.
John James Ribbon Embroidery Needles (Etsy)
Singer 7-in-1 Punch Needle Set
Realeather Leather Stitching Needles
Choosing the right embroidery needle
With so many embroidery needles available, choosing the right one for your project can be overwhelming.
Here are some factors to consider when selecting a needle:
- Thread thickness:
Match the needle size to the thickness of your embroidery thread.
Thicker threads require larger needles, while thinner threads work best with smaller needles. - Fabric type:
Consider the fabric you’ll be embroidering on.
Delicate fabrics like silk or fine linen require sharp, thin needles to minimize damage, while thicker fabrics like denim or canvas can handle larger needles. - Embroidery technique:
Different embroidery techniques call for specific needle types.
For example, counted thread techniques like cross-stitch require blunt-tipped tapestry needles, while bullion knots are best worked with milliner needles.
General recommendations for typical embroidery applications:
- General surface embroidery: Embroidery/crewel needles, sizes 5-10
- Cross-stitch on even weave fabric: Tapestry needles, sizes 24-28
- Crewel embroidery with wool threads: Chenille needles, sizes 18-22
- Bead embroidery: Beading needles, sizes 10-13
- Ribbon embroidery: Ribbon embroidery needles, sizes 18-22
Caring for your embroidery needles
You can do a few things to make your needles last and perform longer.
Some tips:
- Storage:
Store your needles in a dry, safe place where they won’t get lost or damaged.
A needle case or book is ideal for keeping your needles organized and protected. - Disposal:
When a needle becomes bent, rusty, or too dull to use, it’s time to dispose of it.
Never throw old needles in the trash, as they can cause injury.
Instead, place them in a sealed container, like a small jar or plastic bottle, to throw away safely. - Changing needles:
Change your needle regularly to ensure that it remains sharp and free of burrs or snags that can damage your fabric or thread.
A good rule of thumb is to change your needle after every 8-10 hours of stitching or when you notice it becoming dull or difficult to work with.