What is a needle? Needlework needle classification

A needle is a tool used for sewing, felting, embroidery and other types of needlework. The result of the work largely depends on his right choice. For example, if you purchase a set of needles for patchwork sewing, the surface of which does not slide well enough, difficulties may arise when flashing small parts.

How to choose the right needle

Using the appropriate tool helps ensure high quality finished products. How to choose the best option, depending on the specific type of work? One of the main parameters is size. The general rule is that the smallest needle diameter should be used.

The larger the tool, the larger the hole it makes. And if some fabrics can return to their original shape after the project is completed, then others, such as leather, cannot. The needle is, in fact, a small knife that cuts through the skin, therefore it is important that it is strong and sharp.

Universal needles

There are universal tools, the size of the eyelet of which is slightly smaller than standard ones designed for certain types of work. Still, you cannot use the same needle for different projects.

Universal needles can be used when creating embroidery or in sewing, but if you need to create a quality product, it is important to use a professional tool. For example, regular needle embroidery designed for ribbon can ruin the canvas and disrupt the pattern.

The main types of needles for handmade

Hand needles are divided into several types, in accordance with their purpose:

1. Sharp needles are designed for hand sewing. Usually they have a sharp end, a round eye and medium length.
2. Needle for applique is a universal needle that can be used in sewing, appliqués and patchwork.
3. Needle for embroidery - with a blunt end and an enlarged eyelet, which makes it easier to thread a thick thread or several threads.
4. The quilting needle is short, with a small round eye. It is used to create elegant seams on heavy fabrics, when sewing clothes, blankets and for other similar works.
5. The needle for beadwork is very thin, with a narrow eye, so that it can pass through the center of the bead or bead along with the thread.
6. Dubbing needles are long, thick needles used to knit flies.
7. Tapestry needles are tools with a large eye, which allows them to carry a greater weight of yarn than other needles. They have a blunt tip, usually bent at a slight angle from the rest of the needle. Due to this, the needle can pass through loosely woven threads of fabric without breaking it.
8. Chenille needles are similar to tapestry, but with large long eyes and a very sharp end that can cut through closely woven threads of fabric. Used for embroidery with ribbons.
9. Needles for darning (sometimes they are called finishing needles). They have a blunt tip and a large eye, which makes them look like tapestry, but larger.
10. Skin needles are a wedge-shaped tool designed to pierce the skin without tearing. Often used for materials such as vinyl and plastic.
11. Sailing needles are similar to leather, but they have a trihedral shape and are designed to stitch a thick canvas or leather.
12. Tatting needles are characterized by uniform thickness along the entire length, including in the eye area, so that the thread is easier to stretch through the double stitches used in weaving.
13. Upholstery needles are heavy and long. They can be straight or curved. Such a tool is used when sewing thick fabrics and in upholstery.

In a separate category, needles are used that are used for felting wool. Their shape differs from the tools used in hand sewing, the absence of an eye.

Classification of felting needles

Felting needles are used to seal the material. Woolen fibers rub against each other and are fixed in a certain place, which allows you to create a denser material called felt.

There are several varieties of such needles:

• triangular;
• triangular twisted;
• inverse triangular;
• star;
• twisted asterisk;
• castellated.

All of them differ in purpose and form:

1. A triangular needle is a three-sided tool with serrations along its entire length. It is used for rough felting.
2. The reverse needle pulls out the fibers, which allows you to create wool on animal toys, similar to real.
3. The asterisk has four sides. It is suitable for delicate work and the formation of small parts.
4. Twisted needles accelerate the process of felting, thanks to a large number of notches at the ends.

All tools used for felting are very sharp and can seriously injure your hands if you do not use thimbles.