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SewNowThis.com Info on sewing, needlepoint and textiles... Needlepoint
Needles The
basic needles used in Needlepoint Once canvas and thread are selected, a needle is needed to work the stitches. Needlepoint needles come in many sizes and shapes, depending on the uses, and some needles for other uses can be used in Needlepoint. The ideal needle for any project is one that will hold your thread but won’t mar the canvas. You want one to fit through the holes of your canvas but still hold your yarn for stitching. Needles come in many lengths and eye sizes making it easy to find one appropriate for your project. One of the unifying factors for all needlepoint needles is the tip: it’s not ‘sharp’ like a sewing needle, and it doesn't have to be to fit through the holes in the canvas. It will be pointed as in any other needle, but it will be slightly rounded, or blunt, at the ends. Needlepoint needles are purchased by their numbers, which is an indication of their size: the smaller the number the larger the needle, the larger the number the smaller the needle. For example, a number 13 needle will be much bigger than a number 26 needle. Needlepoint needles have different uses. Some are made exclusively for rug canvas, some for plastic canvas, and others for tapestry and cross stitch, but generally the sizes can be used interchangeably. If you see a package stating “plastic canvas needles” and it’s a number 18, you can still use that with any canvas that’s 10 mesh, plastic or not. When putting a project together, such as finishing or creating a tapestry pillow, you can use other needles to help you besides ones designated for needlepoint. If you have a suede trim you are attaching to your work in some fashion, a chenille or a leather needle may help you since it has a large eye for the yarn but a sharp, triangular tip for piercing. Here is a run-down of the sizes of the basic needlepoint needles and their approximate canvas sizes for using them on. Remember, the goal for any needle is to accommodate yarn through the eye, and not to create damage on the canvas by making the hole bigger. You may find a needle and canvas combination different from that of the chart.
By
Renee Shelton |
