Embroidery Needles... blunt ?

[Dona Leonor]

I've being embroidering for a while now and I don't really know how to tell if the
needle is has gotten blunt ?
I have quite a few embroidery needles... I guess I don't use the same one enough to tell.

[bookwormbethie]

I usually use a completely new needle after I do about 3 embroidery projects--- plus whenever I make a lot of french knots my needle gets slightly bent.  I can tell a big difference when I switch, the new needle is so straight and sharp and pierces the fabric easily.  I have several different sized/lengths of needles but I usually use DMC size 5 needles.

[Muddlepud]

I don't necessarily know how to tell when they're blunt. I just can really tell the difference when I switch to a new one. It's like I didn't even know what I was missing with the old needle because I'd gotten used to it. You can also buy or make little pincushions with sand or emory in them for sharpening pins and needles (or for keeping them sharp). I've considered making one so I never run into blunt needles again!

[Katxena]

Wow.  I've had the same needles for a million-billion years.   It never occurred to me that they might get blunt.  I'll replace mine and see what happens.  Thanks for the idea.

[kittykill]

I have so many projects going that each one has a needle. My favorite needle is bent and I'm sure blunt by now.

[BeatnikChick]

If you have a Tomato with Strawberry Pin Cushion, the strawberry is an Emory to sharpen/clean your needles... Just jab away or pull it right through, it does help.

[skaborsk]

If you have a Tomato with Strawberry Pin Cushion, the strawberry is an Emory to sharpen/clean your needles... Just jab away or pull it right through, it does help.

So THATS what the strawberry is for! i always wondered about that.

[Gaylie]

I usually lose my needle after a project or two, so it doesn't really come up.  I've found that what they call embroidery needles suck on non-aida cloth projects.

[beelisty]

I have so many projects going that each one has a needle. My favorite needle is bent and I'm sure blunt by now.

this is how i work as well-- needle per project.

[lylacfey]

I change the needle after each project.  They are cheap & your project is archival or you have put a lot of hours into it.  I don't want to lose all my hard work because of a bad needle.

I use the little strawberry to keep my needle sharp while I work on a project.  After each color change I run my needle through the strawberry.