Choosing the Right Needle for English Patchwork
How to Choose the Correct Needle to Sew English Paper Piecing
Jul 6, 2009
The right needle for the work in hand is an important choice which can make the difference between pleasurable, beautiful, even stitching and sewing which is a nightmare.
Equipment for Hand Sewing English Patchwork
- Size 8-9 Sharp Needle
- Needle Threader
- Thimble
The Correct Needle for Hand Sewn Patchwork
When hand sewing English paper pieced patchwork the best kind of needle to use is a Size 8 or 9 Sharp. This is a medium length straight needle with a sharp tip and a small eye, as opposed to the longer shaped eye seen in tapestry and beading needles. It can be difficult to thread because of this as some people have difficulty seeing the needle's eye so if necessary purchase a needle threader.
Don't waste money buying a pack of different sized needles. Most will probably never be used. It's far better to buy a full pack of the size of needle you need and replace the needles when they get sticky or dirty.
Caring for the Patchwork Needles
Needles should be kept in their packets away from damp. They can rust and one thing that should be avoided is rust stains on the needlework. If the needle gets dirty and/or sticky during work replace it. It may be that very crisp, tightly woven patchwork fabric will make the sewing difficult and in this case or if the needleworker develops sore fingers, a thimble should be obtained. Try and find a shop where the thimble can be tried on as it can be very difficult to know what size should be purchased to begin with.
Needle safety
Always to leave the needle stuck in the reel of thread for the work in use. That way it won't get lost. It's awfully easy to lose needles on the floor or in furniture and family and friends won't appreciate needles in feet or other parts of the anatomy. It is also not a good idea to leave the needle in a section of the patchwork. It may be forgotten until after the quilt is finished - feeling something scratching one's leg in the night from inside the quilt can be quite disconcerting! What's more, if needles or pins are left in the quilt and it has to be washed they can rust and leave marks which will be very difficult to remove.
Summary
- Buy a full packet of needles all in the same size and style.
- Keep the needles clean and dry.
- Use a needle threader if necessary.
- Use a thimble if necessary.
- Never leave the needles where they could stick into people.
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