Don't Question Your Talent

This is for all you awesome creatives out there and let it be your mantra, "Don't question your talent!". Ever! And never stop doing it. Long ago I bounced aimlessly from one creative hobby to the next. Collage, oil  painting, sketching, machine sewing, jewelry making, rug hooking, ceramics, embroidery, crewel work, gardening, knitting, etc., etc., etc., and then, drum roll please, counted cross stitch. I fell head over heels for this craft and I say craft because that is what it was for me in the beginning. Every minute of my spare time was spent pouring over catalogs and shopping at local needlework shops and craft stores. Like any addiction, "Hi, my name is Debbie and I'm a cross stitch addict", I couldn't get enough of it. When the internet came along, I really was a kid in a candy store, I could shop the world for not only what I knew, but now all the awesome stuff I never knew. The years passed and I never grew bored with it, although my life did make me take breaks from it for, well, life! I learned a lot from other stitchers, from manufacturers, from needlework stores and books. As time passed, my passion went from a blazing fire to a warm glow. I found I no longer just wanted to stitch the patterns and kits I bought but wanted to change them. My attention wasn't so much what new pattern I wanted to buy but how I could customize the one I was working on. What new fibers were out there that would make it more interesting and give it more texture? What kinds of beads were out there and charms and buttons? The next step was to try my hand at designing, using my own colors and imagination. Then it came to how can I integrate all these wonderful embellishments and fibers into my designs and what was the best way to actually make the designs? This is when I realized how much this art helped me evolve into my creativity and still keeps me hungry for more. I never doubted my love for this art and I always enjoyed the ride and that is why I never doubted my talent for it. 

That doesn't mean that it's easy or that I don't second guess myself when it comes to a design or materials or even how to execute them because that is part and parcel of creativity. However, I learned early on that trying to make what I thought would trend with the current wave of design failed me miserably. I never was happy with that work. If I am true to myself and sincere, the work always thrills and satisfies and actually challenges me on some level that makes me grow.

So here is my takeaway. If you are listless and uncertain, listen to that voice that is telling you, hey, this isn't right for me somehow because that is your early warning system to not waste more time on it. Keep yourself open to trying things that spark your interest because that is the only way you will find that perfect fit. Don't think you have to be a pro in 6 weeks, 6 months or 6 years because the journey is never predetermined and expertise is ever growing. 

The last thing is to never question your talent. If you truly love something, and you certainly know when you are crazy in love with something, you will be good at it because you then are willing to do the work to keep improving and evolving. That evolution will give you your own voice and signature creativity. Don't think that you aren't good enough or will never be good enough because I guarantee you will. It's the unabated passion that will drive you on and keep you focused and never let you question your talent!

La Petite Fleurs

Got this project back from the framers on Monday and they just wowed me with the great job they did. Of course a photo cannot do this piece justice but it is a good try.

La Petite Fleurs, framed. The photo makes it look
off-white but the mat and frame is a nice bright
white and I'm glad I opted for the custom mat.

Star Maiden

I had to rip the corona stitches out because I just wasn't happy with it. I came up with something different and will get to stitching it up either today or tomorrow. I have learned that when it comes to the quality of my pieces not to settle for less than the very best possible work I can produce.

Until next week, Keep Creating and Stay Safe!

October Update 10-7-20

Hello all my lovelies out there in stitching land! Here in Oklahoma we are enjoying the most awesome fall weather. The trees are just beginning to turn colors and the temps are in the high 70's and low 80's. Such a great time of year.

14 COUNT AIDA 

Last time I talked about ordering white 14 ct. Aida cloth from Michael's and I got the order within a week. Let's talk about this cloth.

First of all, I look for a tight weave. A loose weave will have larger holes in it that are easily pulled and distorted. Not a big deal so much if you are only using, say, two or three strands of cotton floss or a thick strand of wool. The thickness of the fiber will fill the holes enough where they will not have to be pulled tightly. However, if you are using other fibers, such as metallics or silks, where they do have to be pulled tighter to lay flat, larger woven holes are going to get even larger. Note too that if you are adding a large amount of glass beads or crystals, they are quite heavy if grouped together and also will distort your holes. Actually, any heavy embellishment can do it. Rule of thumb is to get the best quality heavy fabric you can find and afford because no matter what you are stitching on it, it will help you produce the best quality work possible. It's like the difference between using Crayola color pencils and Faber-Castell color pencils, they will both do the job but they will not have the same results.

My recent purchase of larger sized Charles Craft
14 ct. white Aida cloth from Michael's. Great price
and quick delivery made a great experience.

SIZE MATTERS 

I learned the hard way that it is a disaster when you have worked a design and then not have enough material for a border sufficient to get it framed or mounted in some way. The rule of thumb is a three inch border around the design size and mine will have four inches sometimes just to be on the safe side.

STAR MAIDEN UPDATE 

Work on Star Maiden is coming along. I am stitching around the corona a second time with a heavier Kreinik metallic so there is nothing to really show right now. Once I start the embellishments on the corona I will show more pictures. Because the Kreinik I am using is wrapped around a small spool, it is curly as heck and really knots up easily which causes delays. The fiber itself is just gorgeous though. 

APPLE CRISTP 

I made the apple crisp recipe I talked about last time and it turned out great! It was easy and delicious. Here is the recipe: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/229088/apple-crisp-with-oat-topping/ 

Six cut-up Jonathan apples.

Easy Apple Crisp is perfect with a dollop of 
vanilla ice cream and the aroma throughout the
house of cinnamon and brown sugar was heavenly.

THOUGHTS ON OCTOBER AND HALLOWEEN-MOVIES AND BOOKS AND TRICK OR TREATING

October, for me, is the month for horror and mystery reads. I recently re-read the "Dunwich Horror" by H.P. Lovecraft which is a great read for two reasons: the story itself is a great example of the genre and secondly the writer is just a great writer. The short read I just finished up yesterday was "The Haunting of Owensboro Mansion" by Carrie Bates via Amazon Kindle. It was a good short story and even though the elements are a rehash of often used devices, it kept my attention and did not contain anything of a gory or sordid nature. I will probably try another of her books in the future to truly get an idea of her style. I have also been working on another book that I really am enjoying but it is lengthy and not something you can breeze through called "The Essex Serpent" by Sarah Perry. This is an intriguing book and Sarah is a very good writer. The characters are very well developed and the mystery of whether there is a serpent in the water or not is only part of the mystery that carries you along its pages. I am about half through it and hope I can get it finished. or close to it, in the next week or so.

I really, really love Halloween because of trick or treating. I look forward every year to seeing all the kiddos in their wonderful costumes, homemade and bought. However, for the very first time in over 40 years we will not be handing out treats and it breaks my heart. Right now it is just too risky with COVID and so after discussing the pros and cons with my husband we thought it was the best decision for us and our costumed visitors. 

And what's Halloween without a scary movie? Well, I am the only one brave enough in our family to watch them. I'm not a fan of slasher films with gratuitous gore but I can put up with it as long as it's not the primary story line. For instance, the Halloween series, I mean really, c'mon folks, the laws of physics and reason can only be stretched so far and then it just becomes a failed joke. I am hoping on Halloween there will be something worth watching on TV after my hubby goes to bed. That is if I am not too tired too! LOL!

More to come next time and as always, Keep Creating! And Stay Safe!

Debbie

OCTOBER

It's easy to see the changing of the seasons but have you ever smelled it? I know this sounds crazy but as soon as October hits, I can not only see the changing season but I can smell it too. The air is different somehow, not crisper, because here in Oklahoma October usually stays pretty warm, but a drier kind of smell filled with nature drying up and going to bed for the winter. Since burning leaves is not allowed within most city limits you don't get to smell that as often but when my husband and I go motorcycle riding, you can smell it in the country air. That is one of my favorites!

Speaking of motorcycle riding, I may be taking a little more time away from stitching because fall is the perfect riding weather before it gets too cold. 

With the start of fall I thought it would be fun to talk about some fall projects. There are two Mill Hill kits that are languishing that I am dying to start and finish. I love Mill Hill Kits and their kits are great to learn on. I learned many things from doing their kits, especially beading. Don't pass up an opportunity to try one of them out if you get the chance, particularly their earlier ones.

I don't know if I will get to them because I have to continue working on Star Maiden, especially since I stepped away from it for about a week because my carpal tunnel was acting up. I especially would like to get the "Family Frolic" completed and turn it into a box-it. I can then show you how to do those too!

Cooking is another distraction I like to do in the fall. I hate heating up my kitchen in the summer but love baking in the fall. I found an apple crisp recipe I want to make and if it is a success I'll share it with you. Apples and cinnamon are the scents of autumn as far as I'm concerned. I have never cooked so much as I have since COVID started here in March. I'm still working on the perfect meatloaf but got the perfect stew down!

I have also been neglecting my online book club and need to get busy reading. Right now I am reading a book appropriate for October, it's about a haunted manor house. It's a new author and the book is a quick read so we'll see if I will want to read any more of her work when I'm done with this one.  More on that next time. 

I did finally find some Charles Craft better quality 14 ct. Aida in a decent size for my work from Michaels. I also had an order for some Etoile from DMC and after a month emailed them this week and found out it had been misplaced and they were going to process it immediately. All this time I thought it was a delay because of COVID. I'm glad it was just to replace what I used and not that I needed to continue working. 

What are you working on? What is your favorite time of year to stitch, cook, read? I'd love to find out so let me know. 

Until next time, Keep Creating!

Debbie

Quality Needlework Supplies

Circumstances are difficult now, for everyone and just about everything. One of the things that has been a hurdle much of the time is getting supplies via internet. Let's face it, for many of us ordering on the world wide web is usually what we have done in the past for many of our needleworking supplies. I do not have a local needlework shop and sometimes have to rely on big box stores like Michaels and Hobby Lobby. The problem is they do not stock a very comprehensive supply of needlework supplies like they used to. Typically they are down to half an aisle at best. I used to go to them all the time for my fabrics in the 80's but now my best bet is to shop online for them. I use larger pieces of 14 ct. Aida and most places do not stock it. I have noticed that online shops do not stock it like they used to either and those that do are usually sold out of it, especially now. Many times you are not even sure about the manufacturer since they don't list it. I asked to be notified recently of a sold out large size 14 ct. Aida. I was notified alright, but it seems hundreds of others were on that list because when I checked my email that same day and went to order it, guess what, it was already sold out! 

So, I can opt for a much larger piece than what I need and pay a hefty price for it or I can keep hoping and praying that suppliers will start making sure that we have good quality supplies available when we need them. I understand there are delays due to COVID19 and we are all in the same boat when it comes to shipping. Believe me I get it because I am always waiting on something to be delivered in 4 or 5 weeks that used to take one. But there is a bigger issue here that concerns me. What kind of quality are stitchers getting in their supplies? Why has there been such a slowly diminishing pool of them, especially with retailers?

I'll be honest, I personally don't see a shortage of stitchers, especially counted embroidery. When I shop online, even before the pandemic hit, many things were always sold out and you had to wait on them on reorder. Social media platforms have no lack of cross stitch sites and designers with thousands of followers. So what's up? I know there are lots of great small businesses that have sprung up that dye their own fabric, but I'm just looking for plain old white 14 ct. Aida. And who knows who makes it and what kind of quality it is. Charles Craft, Wichelt, Zweigart and MCG were the go to companies but Charles Craft has been absorbed by DMC and MCG is no longer in the counted cloth business. Here is what I found when just trying to get a high quality black 14 ct. Aida. If you don't think there are differences, think again, this should change your mind.

Here are 3 different pieces of 14 ct. black Aida.
As you can see, the darkest black is on the right. 
That piece was made by MCG and I was lucky to
have it in my stash, otherwise I would have to
settle for the others. So why can't I get a truly
black piece of black Aida? 

My question is simple. Why aren't manufacturers giving us the best quality for our money? Why should we settle for varying degrees of gray when we actually need black? Counted embroidery is important, I don't care if it is an ornament for grandma or a museum collector piece, and deserves the high quality you would find in paints, sculptures, ceramics, basket weaving, etc.. Our ingredients determine the quality of the product we produce and we need high quality. 

My goal is to not only produce my own artistic interpretation of counted embroidery but to also make people aware that this is a serious art form. Whatever label you want to attach to it, Fine Art Craft or Fine Craft, it is Art and it is about time it is given the place it deserves in the art world. Right this minute, we have thousands of people, men and women, doing cross stitch. They may not ever want to do more than stitch ready-made patterns and kits. But there are others that are going to expand on what they have learned and decide to do more with it, and those others deserve to have a place in the world where they can show what this art is all about. The difference between paint by number and fine art is no different than stitching a kit versus making a piece of original counted embroidery art. Give us the tools we need to make it so and let us thrive. Let others enjoy the beauty we create and let our fellow stitchers cheer us on in this journey. What I do now I hope will make a difference for everyone else that follows and that is worth the fight. In the meantime, what do we do now to make suppliers realize it and produce what we need? 

Happy Fall to All and a First Look at "Star Maiden"

So here we are again in the fall season and I don't know about you but I am glad to see the end of 2020 getting nearer. What a crazed filled year it has been and I look forward to 2021 with hopeful expectations.

Right now I am going through some transitions with my art and art career. I decided last September that I was going to step away from my column on Mr. X Stitch and devote my full time attention to creating art work. So far I have completed two pieces (one of which is at the framer's) and working on the third which is in its final phase. The work at the framer's is not part of the series, it is a stand alone piece that I started then stopped quite a few years ago. I revised the fibers and their colors and started fresh with it. The title is "La Petite Fleurs". I'll get to that in future posts. 

I decided to work in a series I call The Maiden Series. The first was "Iron Maiden", the second is "Star Maiden" and the third is "Flower Maiden". These works have been in progress, design wise, for years, so it was about time to get it down on paper and stitch them up. Now here's the thing about needlework art, speaking exclusively to cross stitch, it is slow going. That means only a handful of pieces can be produced in a year. I have found that in making my own work, and doing it the right way, is a back and forth of design changes, fiber changes, and fabric changes. Some designs, such as "Star Maiden" that I am working on now, is a difficult one because my stitches have to lay all one way, yet my design is sideways and upside down. It is also on black Aida which is extremely difficult for me since the holes are near impossible to see and that means stitching by feel of where the needle goes more than seeing it. Oftentimes the needle finds the wrong hole and it has to be redone. Sometimes more than once. Very time consuming indeed. The struggle is very real.

Speaking of the black Aida, I went through three different kinds of black Aida before I found one that was truly black, which of course took about two weeks since I had to order them. The best pick was by MCG, which I had in my stash all along and was very fortuitous since they stopped making it two years ago. If I ever have to use black again, and I am hoping I never do, I will probably have to dye black Aida even blacker. That's crazy, but that is what I have to do in order to keep quality standards high. So be warned that black Aida is not that black with most manufacturers now. 

This brings up another topic I will address more in future blogs, that of quality supplies for cross stitch.

I will update soon on the project and posting more on important subjects of needlework art in the future so stay tuned!

Progress so far of "Star Maiden"

Framed and matted "Iron Maiden"

SHARP AND TO THE POINT-SCISSORS AND OTHER MUSINGS

 

The Scissor Squad
I love a good pair of sharp embroidery scissors and although I love all the different styles and decorative effects they have now, I am going to talk about my squad of scissors and why I chose them to be at the ready whenever I stitch.

I have five pairs of scissors handy whenever I stitch, although the fifth pair is kind of a standby of sorts. I have two pairs of Havel's scissors, one is notched and the other has a curved tip. These are the two most important pairs because they both are less prone to accidentally cut stitches that shouldn't be cut. Stitchers know that it takes one little misplaced snip to cause a catastrophe on a project. These are not expensive scissors and easily replaced if they get lost or become dull.

 Next up is a pair of serrated embroidery scissors. Why serrated? Because they are ideal for cutting metallic threads, like the DMC Diamant, Kreinik metallics, and Glissen Gloss Rainbow Filament. This is what they are made for and saves the rest of the squad from getting dull quickly. I'm not sure who made the pair I use, the only mark is it was made in Italy. They are very well made because I have used them for years without any problems and still cut like new.

The next is a small pair of Fiskars that are perfect for cutting out small items such as for applique, snipping those stray bits of material that come loose, and any other miscellaneous jobs that I don't want to use for my mainstay embroidery scissors. Small, sharp and a handy size, in other words perfect all purpose work horse.

Lastly is a pair of Clauss, Titanium, non-stick scissors. These are really great scissors, well-made and very sharp, and I specifically got them for snipping through sticky labels and such. However, I rarely have to cut through sticky labels or glued things, so I just keep them around just in case. I do use them for other things too, but I think they were more of a want than a need purchase. I would probably get more use out of them if I was a paper crafter.

In addition to all these I have a nice pair of travel scissors. These were probably the most expensive of my squad I guess because they are compliant with commercial travel requirements as well as just being good for travel in general. Since these were so pricey though and I don't like to fly, they don't get much use at all, which is good I guess since I would be very upset if I lost them because of the replacement cost.

Large or Small Squad
Do I have scissors in addition to what I have mentioned? Of course I do but very few are decorative. I've got a large and small stork as well as a rooster scissor. The rest are just good utility scissors that can be used for hand stitching, some I don't even have a clue as to their origins, they just appeared in my studio. Maybe they're from the same dimension my needles disappear to! LOL! Although I think it would be cool to have scissors decorated for each holiday or a cute theme, quite honestly I just don't have the room and I would never use them except to maybe take Instagram photos. Besides, I would rather spend my hard earned money on fibers or fabric. Those I would get some use from.

Tweezer Picking
I couldn't let tweezers get left out of this discussion because they are an important tool that is sort of, kind of, in this category. This is strictly a subjective tool because I know so many stitchers that use so many different tweezers and they all work for them. My go to tweezers are a pair that I get in the cosmetic section of just about any store and are a scissor type tweezer. They are easy to hold and grip great, I mean they have to if you are going to pluck your eyebrows with them, right? LOL! I have a pair dedicated for needlework and one for eyebrows and do not interchange them.

Needle News-More to Come-
I received a recent order of DMC #28 Tapestry Needles and being anxious to try them out, soon discovered they wouldn't fit through my Swarovski crystal 2.5mm beads. I tried a package and a half out of 5 and figured that was enough to determine none of them would work. So although these needles are still going to come in handy for a lot of other projects, I am going to look into some #28 John James Tapestry Needles to see if they will work instead. I want to note that the DMC #28 Tapestry Needles work great with the Miyuki 11/0 Delica Beads as will the #26.

I am also going to test the Sullivan's Easy Guide Ball-Tip Needle. I've been curious about whether these are easier to use so it will be interesting to see how they perform. News on this next time.

The Wrap
In the end these are scissors that I have found to work the best for what I make. Like any good artisan, quality tools help put out quality work, so they hold a place of great importance. I recommend having these, or similar, cutting tools for your needlework, out of harms way of children of course, but someplace handy too where you can grab all of them at once. It saves time, which we never have enough of, and headaches, which we don't ever have time for.

Till Next Time-
"I have a profound interest in embroidery, as I have female ancestors on both sides who embroidered their way through great trials."  Emil Ferris, American Writer, Carrtoonist, and Designer

Keep Creating!

IT'S A NEEDLE THANG!

Hello All My Wonderful, Creative Stitchers Out There and a Big Happy Valentine's Day! Can you believe we are halfway through February already? 2020 is already flying by fast and there is so much to do and talk about this year so let's get to it shall we?

I have to tell you that after a year of doing the Mr. X Stitch column, "Confessions of a Cross Stitcher", I am ready to get back to my blog and business. It was a wonderful opportunity and of course I loved working with Jamie and Ailish, but I really needed more time to devote to getting work done with my cross stitch and business so it was time to retire and get back to them. If you haven't had a chance to sign up for the Mr. X Stitch newsletter and visit the website, I would encourage you to do so. Jamie is truly dedicated to the needle arts and works hard to showcase their diversity in the 21st century and possibilities beyond it.

Getting Stuck on Needles 101
I'm not going to get into the history of needles since the beginning of time, but I will tell you something amazed me about the importance of them while I was reading David McCullough's book John Adams. In a letter from his wife Abigail, she asks him to bring back sewing needles for her since they were getting scarce where she was. That really struck me! I mean, here she is at their home, battling disease, raising a family with an absentee husband, worrying over the talk of war with England, and she is requesting needles. I never realized their value until I read that since we take them so for granted now. What a revelation! So let's give these little, hard workers their due.

So I've used a lot of different needles because there all different types for different sewing jobs. Here I am going to specifically talk about tapestry needles for cross stitch.

Thankfully we have a lot of different needles to choose from when stitching, in a lot of different price ranges. I am going to speak about my personal preferences and what I use since this has proven successful for me and my own experiences with them.

Sticking Points
Let's talk about the different brands. There are several to choose from. I haven't used the Bohin or Tulip needles, but I have heard they are very nice working needles. My preference turns to brands that are inexpensive and widely available. That includes John James, DMC, Boye, and Sullivan's (although Sullivan's isn't as available as they used to be-at least here in Oklahoma). They all come in a wide variety of sizes in tapestry too. Personally, I am very hard on the smaller needles, sizes 26 & 28, and being able to replenish my supply quickly is an advantage for me. Right now my go to needles are more the DMC brand. They are well made, strong and available just about everywhere.

Get to the Finish
While different brands come in different finishes, this really is subjective as to preference and performance. I know stitchers that swear up and down that the gold and platinum finish needles are so much better to work with and enjoy using them, and they are not wrong. I have bought and used them and for me and the way I work, the finish doesn't make that much difference to me. I consider my needles collateral damage in my projects because I either break them or lose them, so investing in top notch, expensive needles is not practical for me. When I say break, I am talking about the eye of the needles. The actual shafts in the smaller sizes I manage to bend, another cause for replacement.

Size Does Matter
Tapestry needles come in thick large sizes to petite thin sizes. The larger the number, the smaller the needle. I have accumulated a large range of tapestry sized needles because I use a lot of different fibers and the fiber is what essentially determines the size needle you will use. The larger the needle the larger sized fiber you can use or a larger number of strands. Something really important to consider in counted stitch is the friction of the fiber going through the hole of the fabric. The larger the needle, the larger the hole it will make for the fiber to stitch through. The less friction, the less wear and tear on your fiber. 

My go to needles are sized 22 to 28. I stitch primarily on 14 ct. Aida (because I love it) so I can use a larger needle usually 22-24. When I bead with Swarovski crystals or Miyuki Delica beads, I use a 28. No, I don't use a beading needle and here's why. Have you seen them? They are extremely long, not very stiff, and the eye of the needle is almost microscopic. I have tried them and for stitching on counted fabrics they did not work for me at all. First of all I don't string my beads in a group and then stitch them on. I stitch each bead individually because I like that sturdiness you get when you do it. If one bead falls off, chances are the rest of them will stay put instead of a rope of them spilling off the work at once. The size 28 needle I use is the DMC brand. I have found that eye to be the best when going through holes of beads, especially the Swarovski, since the holes are not very consistent in size and some are too small for even a size 28 to go through, which is why I always purchase extra Swarovski's for a project to compensate for those I can't use. Some Swarovski will be a tight squeeze for the needle but it can go through. This is hard on the more delicate eye of the needle and causes it to break more often.

Something I have noticed here recently, like as of this week recently, is that it was hard for me to find the DMC #28 Tapestry needles. Many places I shop online had all the other sizes but were either out of stock on the 28's or you couldn't find them at all, even on the DMC website! That would be a shame if they stopped carrying them because for stitching beads with counted cross stitch they more than fit the bill, especially with the Swarovski's.

Also, don't worry too much if you get your needles mixed up in the different sizes. You can pretty much tell the 26 and 28 from the larger 22 and 24. I was so anal at one time about having the right needle with the right fabric but in time I learned that the right needle with the right fiber was even more important. If you keep that in mind, you will know which needle to use no matter if you know the size or not.

Where to Stick It


My mini pin cushion along with two needle threaders I use.
You can't see it but the large Dritz threader is well used and
bent up. The smaller threader is handy but seldom used. An
"if needed" standby.

It really doesn't matter if you use a pin cushion or a needle minder or just stick it in the arm of your couch, use whatever you enjoy the most. I have tried and tried to use needle minders (needle keepers) because they are pretty cool and come in so many wonderful designs. However, I am notorious for losing needles, even right off the fiber, and soon learned that needle minders would have to be electromagnetic for my needles to stay on them. So I use pin cushions and usually have several different sized needles in them for using with floss and beads.
 

Front of needlebook I recently purchased from a shop on Etsy. Very well made
and reasonably priced. Love it!

 

The inside and first "page" filled with needles and ready to go!

I recently purchased a needle book on Etsy where I can put my needles and won't have to keep going through the needle supply drawer whenever I need one. Since I am always losing or breaking them, I decided I just wanted to put a bunch of different sizes in one place that I could carry with me from room to room or even when traveling. The needle book is perfect because each sized needle has its very own page in the book. So my first page has 28's, second page has 26's, etc.

Accessories for Needles

When dealing with needles these are indispensable. Magnetic wand on top and
rubber gripper on the bottom.

What do you need to have on hand for working with your needles? How about a needle threader?! With my eyesight I have to have one now at all times. It saves time and gets the job done. I have torn up a lot of those little wire threaders and so now I just use the big Dritz one that is just about a one size fits all. I still keep a wire threader for those teeny tiny eyed needles that the Dritz is too big to fit.

Have a needle puller or grabber on hand since sometimes those needles get stuck behind those stitches on the back and you need that extra grip to get it through. I just use the little round rubber gripper.

Get a magnetic wand! You have to have one of these to help you recover your dropped needles. They aren't expensive and come in handy for other things too, like grabbing screws from small areas. My couch eats my needles so I discovered the wand doesn't work in whatever dimension they go to, they are just gone for good, which is why I buy a lot of needles. If they ever do reappear, I'll be the first to know it since I'm the only one that sits in that spot.

Recycle Them

Handy-dandy recycle for your needles.

Yes you can recycle them! I found a Needle Recycler at Marilyn's (Stoney Creek) website that is made by Singer. It is a plastic vial that comes with the address of where to send it when you are done filling it up. You can put any type of needle in it, so even machine needles can go in there as well as any type of sewing needles. How eco friendly is that?!

Finale
So there you have it, all the information I have about needles that I have learned over the last 25+ years. They are wonderful little work horses whose value we often overlook, until like Abigail, when we are not able to easily get them.

Have a wonderful week! Next week we will discuss scissors! Like the potato chips, you can't have just one!

Keep Creating!