This blog post is all about embroidery needles. The different types of embroidery needles and some of the best brands of needles.
Maybe you’re starting another embroidery project and you’re wanting to try some different needles. Or, maybe you’ve never tried embroidery and you’re trying to learn about it and try it. And any of these needles below would be a good choice of needles to start with.
Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric with different threads and flosses in all kinds of different designs. There are also different types of embroidery you can do. And embroidery has been around for thousands of years.
There are all kinds of different embroidery patterns out there to choose from. Embroidery is not an expensive craft to do. Like all craft supplies there are different prices of needles, some brand are more expensive than others.
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Different Types of Embroidery Needles
Tapestry needles: These are the main type of needle you use in cross stitch. Because they have a blunt tip which makes them ideal for the open weaves fabric you use in cross stitch, like Aida fabric and they also have a larger eye for multiple strands of embroidery floss or thicker threads. Tapestry needles are also used to weave the ends in on knitting and crocheting.
Ballpoint needles: These like the tapestry needles are made especially for cross stitch. Ballpoint needles have a small ball on the tip of the needle instead of a sharp point. The ball tip makes moving through Aida or linen fabric easy. And a lot of people say that ballpoint needles are great for embroidering knit fabric without snagging the fabric.
Beading needles: Beading needles are long and thin needles used for embroidery with beads. I’ve also used beading needles with a bead loom. Because the beading needles are thin and long, they work great for smaller seed beads.
Milliner needles: Milliner needles are also called straw needles. These needles are long, sharp, and the needle’s shaft and eye have the same thickness. Milliner needles are the most commonly used needle in hat-making. In fact milliner means a person who makes or sells women’s hats.
Crewel needles: These are needles that are medium length with a sharp tip and a long eye. The long eyes makes using multiple stands of embroidery threads easier. Crewel embroidery needles can be called just embroidery needles, crewel needles, or embroidery crewel needles and are used for crewel work.
Chenille needles: Chenille needles are kind of like tapestry needles, except they have a sharp tip. Tapestry needles have a blunt tip and are mostly used on loosely woven fabric, while with the sharp tip the chenille needles can be used on tighter woven fabrics. These are also used on what’s called ribbon embroidery.
Sharp needle: Sharps needles are kind of like the all-purpose needle. They can be used for all kinds of different things like, mending, patchwork, dressmaking and more.
Embroidery Needle Brands
Like all the different types of needles out there. There are many different brands of embroidery needles to pick from.
I’m going to show you a few of my favorite brands of embroidery needles. I almost forgot, but along with the different types and brands of hand embroidery needles. There are also different sizes of needle you can use. With all of this variety you’re sure to find the right needle for your next project.
John James Needles
This is probably one of my favorite brands of embroidery needles. This brand of embroidery needles are known for being the finest quality of needles and being very reliable.
John James is a British brand of needles and has been around for over 100 years. So, I would say that they know what they are doing when is comes to making high quality and strong needles.
I really like the beading needles, I have used them for a bead loom and also for making beaded jewelry.
Tulip Embroidery Needles
Tulip hand embroidery needles are one of the top of the line needles and some of the best hand embroidery needles. Yes, these are more expensive than other embroidery needle brand, but great quality is worth spending a little extra on.
Tulip needles have a very sharp tip, so that makes going through the fabric very easy with hardly any resistance. The needles go through a special process that makes them really sharp. I like using sharp needles, but I also like to use needles with a blunt tip like tapestry needles for cross stitch.
These are also strong needles with just enough flexibility, so that the needles don’t break or bend.
Bohin Embroidery Needles
Here is another great hand embroidery needle brand. This brand of needle is known for being strong and smooth and just being good quality needles. And to some this is considered to be the best brand of hand embroidery needles.
Many embroiders love this brand of needles. And having the correct needle for the type of embroidery you doing can make all the difference.
A lot of the needle packs in this brand come with 15 needles. I like the packs that have quite a few needles in them and they’ll last me a long time.
Another thing that’s important when looking for new embroidery needles besides having a strong shaft is having a smooth eye. Whether the eye of the needle is a smaller eye, large eye, round eye or oval eye, being smooth keeps the thread from fraying or catching.
DMC Embroidery Needles
This brand is known for their wonderful high quality embroidery floss. So, it would stand to reason that they also make great embroidery needles.
DMC needles are high quality and very durable. I tend to use the same needle over and over again until it bends or starts snagging on the fabric, so I like to have durable needles.
This brand also like many others have gold-plated needles. Gold-plated needles are luxury needles and are known for how easily they slide through the fabric. I actually just bought a pack of gold needles to try.
I heard of some embroiders like to use new needles when they start new projects. Like, some seamstresses replace their needle before each project. But, whichever group you’re in there’s no right or wrong. Whether you like to used a new needle for every project or you like to use the needle as long as you can.
Conclusion
These are 4 great brands of embroidery needles. And there are also many more brands you use. No matter which brand you pick whether it’s one of these brands or another, I’m sure you’re going to pick the best needle for your project.
All of these needles above are for hand embroidery, not machine embroidery. I love hand embroidery, because it’s old-fashioned and there are tons of stitches you can use. Like French knots, bullion knots, satin stitch, back stitch, running stitch, split stitch and more.
All of these embroidery needle brands have a range of sizes, and it’s always a good idea to different sizes of hand. And you can do embroidery on different types of fabrics.
And if you’re wondering I do not use a needle threader to thread my embroidery needles. But, you can use one if you want to.
