What type of needle should I use for hand embroidery?

Types of Needles for Hand Embroidery  
Choosing the right needle for hand embroidery can seem daunting due to the variety of types and sizes available. This guide will clarify the primary needle options and their applications, assisting you in selecting the most suitable needles for your embroidery endeavors.

Needle Characteristics  

• Needle Point  
  Needles can possess either sharp or blunt points. For hand embroidery, a needle with a sharp point is advantageous as it easily penetrates fabric and separates stitches. However, it may be beneficial to use a blunt-tipped needle when executing weaving stitches, such as woven wheel roses, where fabric penetration is undesirable.
• Needle Eye  
  The eye of a needle varies in both size and shape. Select needles with sufficiently large eyes to allow easy threading. Utilize larger-eyed needles for thicker threads and smaller-eyed needles for thin, single strands. Certain needles, such as Milliners', feature eyes that do not protrude beyond the needle's thickness. These needles are advantageous for crafting stitches like French knots and bullion stitches.
• Needle Length  
  Hand sewing needles are available in various lengths. Shorter needles may facilitate stitches such as long and short stitches. Conversely, longer needles may enhance the ease of executing stitches like cast-on stitch and chain stitch, depending on the sewer's preference.
• Needle Diameter  
  Typically, a needle's thickness correlates with the eye's size. A larger eye accompanies a wider diameter needle. Employing the smallest needle that accommodates your thread will minimize the size of holes produced in your fabric with each stitch.

Needle Varieties for Embroidery

• Embroidery (Crewel) Needles: These needles rank as the most prevalent for hand embroidery. They feature a sharp point and a large, oval eye. Sizes range from 1 to 10, with size 1 being the largest. Each size varies in eye diameter, length, and thickness. Most hand embroidery using six-stranded thread can effectively utilize these needles.
• Milliners' (Straw) Needles: These needles possess sharp tips with oval eyes aligned with the shafts. This design prevents the eye from snagging in knotted stitches, facilitating techniques like boullions. They also excel for beading tasks.
• Tapestry Needles: Characterized by blunt tips and oversized eyes, these needles are ideal for canvas or loose, even-weave fabrics such as Aida, making them commonly used for counted cross-stitch projects.
• Chenille Needles: Similar to tapestry needles, chenille needles have sharp tips. Many prefer these for hand embroidery, as their large eyes simplify threading thicker materials like wool or ribbon.
• Darners and Long Darners: With sharp points and extended lengths, these needles are advantageous for specific stitching tasks.
• Sharps, Quilting Needles, and Between: Short and slender, these needles come with tiny, round eyes. They can be employed for hand embroidery; however, they may present threading challenges.

When choosing needles, consider your fabric, thread, and stitching technique. With experience, you will discern the most suitable types and sizes for various applications. Numerous needle options exist, providing multiple choices to accommodate your project requirements!