Saturday 31 May 2014

LE: Needle Care


I've never been through so many hand sewing needles before. I always keep my needles in foil to prevent rusting and deterioration, but now I find I also have to keep them in a bit of talcum powder too. I think the constant sewing through glue means that they 'wear' faster. It doesn't make logical sense to me that this difference could be deteriorating them, and I normally wouldn't notice but this is the second time I have had to run out to the store to buy extra- and just when I was comfortably seated and ready for a long days hand sewing. The lighting in my room was perfect too. Oh well, it always happens like that, doesn't it?



this is what it's all about; polka dots are finished!



9 comments:

  1. so pretty! do you have high humidity? I guess that can make the needles not last as long also if you not run air conditioning.

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  2. i always seem to bend mine, and its the same with knitting needles , a of my needles are curved now!
    frankie
    www.knitwits-owls.blogspot.com

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  3. Have you tried Bohin applique needles? I was using straw needles at first, but they were bending so fast that I was going through them constantly. I ordered Bohin applique needles from an online needlework shop and they are just a bit shorter and thicker than straws, still very comfortable for me to applique with but they don't bend and they stay quite sharp for a long time. I have not had any rusting issues with the Bohin needles, but I've never had rust issues with any of my needles so I may have lower humidity in my area.

    BTW, your polka dots are SUBLIME!

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  4. Dear Esther

    Last year we all had a big discussion about needles, on Mary Corbet's, Needle and Thread. At the time I had trouble with my trusted John James needles. It turns out a few things affect the quality of our newer needles, one them being made with metal, that is of a different grade, quantity instead of quality, even the fact that the needles are made not anymore in England, John James, but elsewhere. John James brought out a gold glide needle, the eye is gold in colour. These needles just fly through the fabric like melted butter, easy on the hands, fabric and the thread. I am using them now for all my quilting, embroidery, applique. Our grandmothers always carried a little emery with them, to sharpen their needles. One normally get an emery when one buy a red pincushion, with a little strawberry dangling off it, this is filled with emery powder.

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  5. I like your flower :-)
    xx

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  6. Beautiful work (as usual)! Sorry about the needles. Sitting down, reaching for your work, and realizing you don't have something you need is frustrating! Like others, I bend them too often. I may try the Bohin (recommended by another commenter). I also had bending trouble with knitting needles (addi's, no less) until I learned to release my grip!

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  7. Sorry to read about your needle problems, can't offer any suggestions as I don't handstitch as you know. But, I love the fabrics you are using they are so romantic and the deep bugundy and pink OMG it makes me want to swoon!! Cheers Jenny

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  8. You have inspired me to put my dots on these elements. (I left them "un-dotted" before.)
    My needles last forever, even in our high humidity. I use them even when they are bent over (like an old friend). Your LE is looking fantastic!

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  9. Congrats on finishing all those dots! Do you have high humidity? How strange about the needles.

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