Beadwrangler's About Beads

Beading and Sharps Needles
I use English sharps and beading needles only. I use size 12 for most of my beading from size 6/0 to smaller beads through most size 15/0 beads. My students like size 11 sharps needles for 11/0 and larger beads because the eye is easier to see. They use a 12 sharps for those beads with smaller holes. I use sizes 13 and 15 beading needles for smaller beads. Some larger beads that have small holes will require a size 13 or 15 needle to get through a small hole. I use size 15 beading needles for most smaller beads. I file down the size 15 needle eye when beads will not go over the size 15 needle. Size 16 beading needles are very expensive and easily bend and break. The tiniest beads, 20/0 through 24/0 will not go through most needle eyes and will only fit over a twisted wire needle. I crochet and knit with these beads and use them in weaving with thin fibers, taking them through a shed rather than taking a needle back through them. The smallest sharps needles are now size 13, a brand new size for sharps needles. I wish they came in size 15. I use sharps needles (shorter) for beading complex forms such as peyote and square stitch which require short stitches and beading needles (longer) for weaving on a loom, bead dangles, bead loops and necklace strands. Sharps needles will go through thin leather and other fibers, beading needles tend to bend too much.

There are other needles on the market that are not English and are less expensive, however, it is my experience they will not hold up, bend and break more easily and result in more time wasted when working on a project. You can not find a better needle than those made by the English and good tools are worth the extra cost. Recently, a beader friend let me try a new beading needle being produced elsewhere. I found it quickly bent and I spent much more time working with it than when beading with my trusty English needles. After I wove a few lines of beads, the needle was bent, whereas my English needles last me hundreds of beading hours before bending. My beading friend stated she did not see much difference and perhaps if you are only beading in small spurts, it may not matter. For me, I would bend and break so many needles, the cost savings would not be there because I would use 10 times the number of those needles compared to my one English needle, not to mention the aggravation of the needles bending when I am in the middle of a project. It makes an enormous difference what type needles are included in kits and used in classes. The right needles can make beading a great joy, the wrong needles can make beading a chore, especially for new beaders. When your English needles eventually do bend from wear, use flat nose pliers to reshape the needle. You can do this many times before it eventually breaks.

Twisted Wire (Flexible) Needles
I use twisted/flexible wire needles to pre-string beads for crocheting/knitting , loom weaving, and for bead stringing. The needle eye collapses when it goes through the bead and then reshapes itself after it is out of the bead. Extra fine size 6, fine size 8, medium size 10 and medium/heavy size 12 are usually found at most bead retailers. I use a 6 extra fine for size 18/0 and smaller beads. Size 20/0 and smaller beads will not work on most thicker twisted wire needles. I use a medium size 10 for most beads from 6/0 through 16/0. I have never needed to use a thicker needle. You can also string rice pearls with the extra fine and medium twisted/flex wire needles. The mediums are softer and somewhat difficult to see. The extra fine are like tiny hairs and can easily be lost. I keep mine in a needle safe and put the one I am currently using back in the case when I am finished. The heavy needle is great for big gemstone and other heavy weight beads for hand stringing and for bead spinners.

Very Fine Short, .005″ (.127mm ) 2″ to 3″ long. Beads: Sizes 16/0 through 24/0 and other very small equivalent size beads. Thread: Beading thread size A (0 equivalent), including Silamide thread, and 00, YLI Elite thread 60/2ply, , Gutermann Silk twist, YLI silk and Gudebrod Silk sizes 00, 0 and A, thin threads such as Sulky #40, polyester and tatting threads. This needle is too soft to use with the bead spinner.

Fine Short, .007″ (.178mm ) 2″ to 3″ long. Beads: Sizes 16/0 through 20/0 and other very small beads of equivalent sizes. Thread: Beading thread size A (0 equivalent), including Silamide thread, YLI Elite 60/2 ply thread, Gutermann Silk twist, YLI and Gudebrod Silk size 00, 0 and A, thin threads such as Sulky #40, polyester and tatting threads. These needles can be used with the mini bead spinner, however, they are difficult to control because they are so thin. If you work with 16/0 to 20/0 small beads, you will find this needle easier to see than the very fine short which is about the thickness of a hair.

Fine Long, .009″ (.229mm) 3�″ to 4″ long. Not as thin as the Fine #6. They are listed with the same thickness as Medium #10 but seem to be a little thinner. Beads: Size 16/0 and 18/0. Thread: Beading thread sizes A, 00 and B, DMC/Anchor #80 pearl cotton and Gudebrod silk size A or 0.

Medium Short, .009″ (.229mm) 2″ to 2�″ long. Beads: Sizes 11/0, 12/0, 13/0, 14/0, Hex 15 and Delicas Thread: Beading, crochet/weaving/embroidery 24/2 & 20/2, 30 weight such as Jeans Stitch and Cebelia, Coats Opera, and Anchor/DMC #8 and #12 pearl cotton. These needles are not recommended for the bead spinner.

Medium Long, .012″ (.305mm) 3�″ to 4″ long. They are a little sturdier, longer and easier to work than the Medium #10; however, beads with very small holes may not fit over the eye. Beads: Sizes 11/0, 12/0, 13/0, 14/0, Hex 15 and Delicas. Thread: Beading, crochet/weaving/embroidery 24/2 & 20/2, 30 weight such as Jeans Stitch and Cebelia, Coats Opera, and Anchor/DMC #8 and #12 pearl cotton. These needles work with the bead spinner.

Heavy, .019″ (.483mm) 3�″ long. Much heavier and support larger beads. This needle will last for a very long time. Beads: Sizes 4/0, 6/0 and most 8/0 beads. You can also hand string all size gemstone beads, even the 16mm beads and other large heavy beads. Thread: #10 crochet, weaving/crochet 10/1, 10/2 & 10/3, DMC/Anchor #8 pearl cotton and threads of equivalent thickness. These needles work with the bead spinner.

Oval Eye, .011″(.279mm) 5″ long. This needle has a long eye opening, a little over 1/2″ long, which collapses when the bead goes over it and then immediately springs back opens, which is a real plus to me. This needle is a valuable tool for those with eye strain. Use the bead and thread listing for the Medium #10 and Medium Long Needles. This needle works with the bead spinner. This is my favorite needle to use with the bead spinner because the eye is easy to thread every time. I also keep one needle cut shorter for quickly switching from a beading or sharps needle to a flexible needle when needed for beading and stitchery projects and for string beads by hand for specific patterned ropes.

Big Eye, 5 �″ long, has an eye running the length of the needle with a �″ closure on each end. It is a rigid needle. Simply use both hands to open the middle of the needle and put the thread through. This needle is very easy to thread. Use this needle for size 6/0 beads through 11/0 beads. Some 11/0 beads with small holes will not work unless you file both ends where the beads pass over the needle. Use a small "fine" hand file (equal to 400-600 fine grit) and very gently file both sides at each end of the needle; but do not use the file at the very bottom ends where the two pieces are soldered together or you may separate them. Keep the filed needle for use with the smaller hole beads only, when you file it down, it will wear quickly if you use it to string the heavier beads. For size 10/0 and 11/0 beads, use Jean Stitch, Cebelia #30 and DMC/Anchor #12 Pearl Cotton and other thin threads for crochet/knitting; beading thread for beading. This needle can also be used for stringing beads by hand. You can hand string heavy gemstone and glass beads with this needle. The whole length of the needle can be used with the bead spinner. It will string more beads on at a time and if you mangle twisted wire needles, it will be easier for you to use. You can use this needle for stringing size 4mm beads and other small beads besides seed beads in the bead spinner.

Multi-use Needles
Soft Touch #10 Needle, a product from the SoftFlex "Guys" for stringing beads with Soft Touch .010 wire. This needle does zip right onto SoftTouch wire and make it easier to string beads onto such a soft wire, however, it does much more. The eye shaping seems to be flatter than other needles the same size making it possible to get smaller beads over the needle eye. Most 11/0 beads, many size 12/0 cut beads, Delicas and 14/0 beads can be strung with this needle, even going through with the needle more than once. It is a very sturdy needle and those with eye strain, difficulty threading thinner needles or a dexterity deficiency with thinner needles, will find this needle very helpful. This needle may not go through every single smaller beads, but it will go through a large percentage, plus all the larger beads. Those of you who work tight and bend your needles fast will be happy to have a few of these needles around.

Stole Weaving Needle, 5″ length is a stupendous needle. It is thicker than a large size 16 tapestry needle and can be used for many purposes. You can use it to take elastic or wire such as SoftFlex/SoftTouch through the middle of your beaded ropes and other creations. I use it to pack down fiberfill in stuffed pieces, to bring a thread through beading and crochet that my fingers and a smaller needle can not get to, to take wire through designer beads with bigger holes and attach to beading. You will find your own uses for this needle. I also use 3 to 5 of these needles for off loom needle weaving. They can be stored in both the crocheted zippered and crochet wooden case.

Soft Sculpture (Doll) Needle, 5″ length, is a multi-purpose needle. It works great for stuffing dolls, tubes, bringing thread through a long tube of beading, crochet or knitting much like the stole needles; however, the needles are much thinner. They are the approximate thickness of the 0000 metal knitting needles. You can use 3 to 5 of them for off loom needle weaving thin threads and other fine fibers. You can also knit with 2 of them when making small items requiring only a few rows across such as the On The Surface bead knitted bracelets. You can only use one end of the needle when knitting since the other end has an eye. For weaving and knitting purposes, sand the needle ends with fine grit sand paper or a sanding tool. Since they are smaller than most knitting needles, they can be stored in both the crochet zippered and the crochet wooden case.

Tapestry Needles sizes 18 and 20 The tapestry needles have big oval eyes and the needle ends are dull rather than sharp. These needles are perfect for needle weaving, pin weaving, netting, macram� and other crafts that require a needle that is not sharp and will not perforate the fibers. When I am pin weaving, I may use as many as 20 or more needles, one left on each yarn or thread that I will pick up and work, then go to the next and do the same. The size 18 needle has a larger eye and is a little longer than the size 20. I use the size 18 for the thicker fibers and the size 20 for thinner fibers.

Embroidery Needles sizes 7, 8 & 20 These needles are, of course, great for embroidery. They are also perfect for finishing off the thread ends for knitted, crocheted, woven and other stitchery. All the embroidery needles have sharp ends and oval eyes. The size 8 needle has a larger eye and is a little longer than the size 7. The size 8 needle is perfect for Jean Stitch thread and other threads with about the same thickness such as Cebelia 30 and top stitching, for finishing off the loose thread ends. The size 7 is good for Elite thread, which is much thinner than Jean Stitch thread. and other thin sewing threads. The size 7 is good for Fine Metallics thread and the size 8 when Fine Metallics are combined with another thread. The size 8 will work with Rainbow Elastic 1mm, Finca Pearl Cotton #8, Jean Stitch and On The Surface New Metallics thread. The size 20 is a little longer than the size 8 and much thicker. The size 20 looks like a tapestry needle with the exception that the needle end is sharp. The size 20 is good for Rainbow Elastic 3mm, size 10 crochet thread and other thread of the same thickness.

Knitting Needles, Double Pointed, 0000 These double pointed steel needles are available in two lengths, 7 3/4" (19.7cm) and 4" (10.2cm). The longer needles are perfect for creating small bead knitted amulet bags and other small projects that include beads, or for fine thread knitting of small projects. The 4" needles are perfect for making bead knitted bracelets, necklaces and other items requiring only only 3 to 12 or so stitches. The 4" needles are easy to store in the needle safe. The 7 3/4" needles will fit in the wooden knitting storage case. I tend to stab myself when I use the longer needles for just a few stitches when bead knitting and these little 4" needles are perfect and they are cute. I keep both sizes on hand for their various projects.

Bead Spinner Conversion Package This package is designed for people that bought their bead spinner from someone other than the Beadwrangler and do not want to continue using the long rigid needle with the tiny eye. This package comes with the same 12-page instruction booklet that is shipped with the Beadwrangler Bead Spinner and a thread minder. The package also contains several needles for use with your bead spinner including twisted wire needles in medium and heavy sizes, a big eye needle and a oval eye needle. See needle descriptions above.

Bead Spinner Multi Needle Package This package is designed for people that already have a Beadwrangler Bead Spinner or are ordering one. The package comes with all the popular bead spinner needles including twisted wire needles in medium and heavy sizes (five of each) as well as three oval eye needles and three big eye needles.

The Needle Safe This is a handy little case that will keep you from losing needles. Sharps, beading, tapestry, embroidery, sewing any other type needle will set in place for the next time you need them. Your twisted wire needles will no longer end out looking like pretzels, wrapped up in your long pile carpet, tangled in your pet's hair, or stuck in one of your family's feet; speaking from experience here. Each case side has a magnet base which holds all the needles in place. Each time you finish using a needle, set it back down on the needle safe until you need it again. Needle Safe is 4 1/2" (11.5cm) long by 2 1/4" (5.8cm) wide, and 5/8" (1.5cm) depth. The needle safe will hold both short and long needles, including long twisted wire needles, 4" size 0000 steel knitting needles and thick tapestry needles for weaving thick yarn. I keep mine on my work table and close it when I am not using it. It is great for travel too. Do not put your needle safe near your computer or in close proximity of anyone wearing a pacemaker. Keep this in mind for any item containing magnets.

You will find needles at the Needle Shop and beading supplies at my Beadwrangler Mall which also contains extensive information pages on beads, thread, needles and lots more!