The needle is easy to overlook, it’s the smallest thing in your kit, but the wrong one can make a project harder than it needs to be. This guide pulls together everything on the site about choosing, using, and looking after your cross stitch needles.
Every post tagged below covers some part of this topic, newest first. If you want a specific answer right away, start with the sections below.
Needle size and brand make more of a difference than most stitchers expect, and getting it right from the start saves a lot of frustration with fabric snagging or thread splitting.
Start with what size cross stitch needle you need, then what’s the best cross stitch needle for you if you want a fuller comparison. Who makes the best cross stitch needles covers the brand side, and why embroidery needles are given random size numbers explains the numbering system that confuses almost everyone at first.
Standard tapestry needles cover most projects, but there are a few variations worth knowing about, especially if you’re blending threads or working with delicate fabric.
Why you should try gold plated needles and whether pony black needles are better than gold both look at needle finishes. If you’re blending threads, double eye tapestry needles are worth a look, and why you should use multiple types of needles makes the case for not settling on just one.
Threading a needle sounds simple until you’re doing it for the fiftieth time in one sitting, and knowing when to retire an old needle matters more than most people realize.
Self threading needles, are they worth it and needle threaders both tackle the threading problem from different angles. There are two eyes to every needle is a small trick worth knowing, and time to ditch that old cross stitch needle covers the signs a needle needs replacing.
Loose needles have a habit of disappearing entirely or turning up somewhere they shouldn’t. A bit of organization goes a long way.
How to properly store cross stitch needles covers the basics, and how to store needle tubes looks at keeping the packaging itself under control.
A needle minder keeps your needle safe and visible mid-project, and there’s a surprisingly large world of options out there once you start looking.
How to find a perfect needle minder and how to make a needle minder cover buying versus making your own. The crazy world of needle minders shows just how far the hobby has taken this, and if you hate needle minders, there is a solution for anyone who’s never gotten on with them.
If you’re curious about where your needle actually came from, this is for you.
How cross stitch needles are made and the surprisingly interesting history of the cross stitch needle both go behind the scenes of the humble needle.
A few weeks ago we listed out some of the best-known cross stitch needle brands and gave them reviews based on a lot of factors. However, despite allowing us to work out who the best cross stitch needles were made by, we got a few people asking about different types of needles. In that post,…
We love cross stitch needles here at Lord Libidan. In the past we've covered the suprising history of the cross stitch needle and how cross stitch needles are made in length, but a recent post about time to ditch your cross stitch needle led us into interesting territory; some cross stitch needles last longer than…
It's probably no surprise to regular readers, but I'm a fan of needle minders. I've spoken about the weird world of needle minders before, but there's something you might not know: I don't put needle minders on my work. OK, OK, I love them, and I use them, but I keep it next to me…
Our recent post on needle threaders has been a bit of a runaway success, however, I've had a few people ask a simple question; what about self-threading needles? I must admit, that despite owning a pack, I never actually tried them out, so I threw caution to the wind and threaded a few needles. What…