I've been experimenting with fine needles in various sizes from various makers -- the Macculloch page that Suzi posted is mostly John James needles, which are quite nice. My recent experiments have suggested that the S. Thomas & Sons are a bit "springier", if you like that in a needle. I've never had the opportunity to try the Millward's. Because my eyes are going bad, I have been buying the size 10 and size 12 crewel needles, which are fine and have a long eye that is easier to poke a thread through. Bjarne, if you are seeking small eyes (on your needles) and your *own* eyes are good, go with the plain "sharps" -- 12s are really nice and tiny, and the heads should not stick out. "Quilters" are shorter, if you like a very short needle.
A thing that drives me nuts about needles is that while a bigger number means a smaller size in general, the series starts over after 12 -- so they get smaller from 1-12, then the numbers start over at 13, which is an *immense* darner and then they go down again (so a number 18 darner is about the size of a number 1 darner; just maddening!) Chenilles and tapestries have immense eyes, start at 13 and get smaller down to 26 or 28 -- but a 26 or 28 chenille is nowhere near as fine as a 12 sharp. There are some interesting pictures of the range of needle sizes within some of the common types here: http://www.colonialneedle.com/html/about-needles.html The page is called "all about needles" but it actually leaves off some of the things I most want to know, like what it means when a packet says the size is 4/8 or 7/9, or why you might want your needles gold or platinum plated, or how you can tell what length a needle will be. Perhaps someone on the list will enlighten me on those points? ;-) Best, Lauren http://www.timetraveltextiles.com -------------- Original message -------------- From: Suzi Clarke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > At 19:35 28/11/2007, you wrote: > >Stupid me, it was because i misspelled the name, sorry folks! > >But could someone tell me wich are smallest, 5/10 - 3/9 or 7? > >Usually not attended to the size nr. cause i just chose the smalles > >i could get. > >Also heard that you can get extremely fine sharps with the numbers > >of 12 according to Inspirations Magazine issue where i am in, there > >is an article of the Suzhou embroidery tour that the magazine had. > >They use sharps nr 12 and where might i get some of them? > >Would it say that a size 8 is finer than a size 7? > > > >Bjarne who just discovered how stupid i really am, not nowing > >anything at all about sewing needles............ > > I sew with Millwards needles, and the higher the number the finer the > needles, so an Embroidery 10, or a Sharp 10 is finer that a 7. You > can buy complete packs of 10's in most haberdashery shops here. And > in MacCullochs > > http://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/Category.aspx/HandNeedles > > Suzi > > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
