Buy Hand Sewing Needles

Hand sewing needles come in various sizes and types, each designed for specific fabrics and purposes. Sure, you could grab any pack of sewing needles, but if you have the right one for the job, it’s sure to go a lot more smoothly!

So how do you choose the best hand sewing needles for your project? While most packaging will tell you what purpose that particular hand sewing needle was designed for, it also helps to familiarize yourself with the various types of hand sewing needles and their uses.

Here is a quick overview of the most common types of hand sewing needles that we carry:

➤Sharps are considered a general purpose sewing needle, suitable for most woven fabrics and basic sewing tasks. These medium-length needles are the most commonly used type of hand sewing needle. As the name suggests, they are quite sharp!

➤Quilting needles, commonly known as betweens, are shorter and finer than most hand sewing needles, featuring a round eye. Their compact size makes them ideal for quilting and precise handwork, enabling quilters to produce quick and even stitches. Additionally, you will find big eye quilting needles, which have a larger eye to facilitate easier threading, as well as curved quilting needles, which are ideal for tying quilts due to the curved shaft that allows you to easily scoop up fabric layers and work in tight spaces.

➤Embroidery needles have a longer eye designed to accommodate multiple embroidery threads, making it much easier to thread the needle. In addition to their primary use, hand embroidery needles can also be used for general sewing tasks. They are especially beneficial for individuals who have difficulty seeing the eye of a needle.

➤Sashiko needles are long, sturdy needles designed for the Japanese sashiko embroidery technique, allowing multiple stitches to be loaded at once. These Japanese hand sewing needles feature large eyes to accommodate thick sashiko threads, while their slightly rounded points prevent fabric snagging, ensuring smooth and even stitching.

➤Milliner needles are long with round eyes and are traditionally used in the art of hat making (hence the name). Also sometimes called straw needles, milliners needles are long and thin with sharp points that make them ideal for pleating, smocking, embroidery involving wrapped threads (like bullion knots), and basting/gathering fabric.

➤Chenille needles are specifically designed for heavier embroidery threads and ribbon embroidery. These needles feature a large eye and a sharp point, making them ideal for crewel and ribbon embroidery.

➤Gold plated sewing needles are high-quality needles coated with gold for several benefits beyond aesthetics. The gold plating reduces friction for smoother sewing, especially through thick fabrics, and offers excellent corrosion resistance, preventing rust and tarnish for increased longevity. Additionally, the gold provides a hypoallergenic surface, making them suitable for those with sensitive skin. While more expensive than standard needles, gold-plated needles are a worthwhile investment for those with sensitivities or anyone seeking durable and high-performing needles for their sewing projects.

➤Platinum sewing needles are coated with platinum for superior performance and longevity. This high-tech hand sewing needle option offers unparalleled smoothness for effortless stitching (especially with delicate fabrics), exceptional durability and resistance to bending or breaking, superior corrosion resistance, and hypoallergenic properties. Platinum sewing needles excel in fine fabric work, intricate projects, and long-term use. Due to the cost of platinum, these needles are the most expensive available on today’s market.

Ultimately, your choice of which hand sewing needles to use will depend on the fabric weight, thread type, and stitch type. The finest hand sewing needles are used for lightweight fabrics, while thicker heavy duty hand seing needles are better suited for heavy fabrics. Your chosen needle's eye should be large enough for whatever thread you will be using; also keep in mind that different stitches may be easier to execute with specific needle types. 

Hand sewing needle sizes are numbered, typically ranging from 1 to 12, although some specialty needles may fall outside this range. It may seem counter-intuitive, but smaller numbers represent thicker needles and larger numbers indicate finer needles; if you are looking for hand sewing needle sizes in mm, that is trickier because the sizing system can vary by manufacturer. When buying hand sewing needles online, we recommend checking the product images and descriptions to ensure you are purchasing the right hand sewing needle sizes you need!

When it comes to how to store hand sewing needles, you have a few options! A pin cushion, needle book, or needle case are all great choices for keeping your needles safe and secure. Many sewing and hand quilting needles come in packaging that doubles as sewing needle storage, such as plastic or metal tubes, paper sleeves, and the like.

We are pleased to offer a selection of the best hand sewing needle brands, including Bohin, Clover, Colonial, Roxanne, and John James needles.