Like so many other things, the manufacture of needles seems to be moving to China where labor is cheap and government oversight of factory conditions, pollution, etc. is lax. Trish Burr (a very well known embroidery teacher and writer in Australia) noticed this when she started selling needles from Richard Hemming and Son on her website.
http://trishburr.com/2012/05/24/english-needles-no-longer-made-in-england/
Mary Corbet picked up the discussion since she just broke a needle. I am hoping that Colonial Needle will see this discussion and respond to Mary's question as they distribute John James needles and may have more information as to their country of origin.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/05/the-broken-needle.html#more-14437
Mary has discovered the Bohin needles are still made in France as they've been since the 1830s.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/05/bohin-needles-company.html
I like John James needles and have used them for years. However, Piecemaker needles have always been my favorites until Bohin needles became available in my area. To me, Piecemakers and Bohin needles are equally desirable needles and they are the same price at my LNSs. Piecemaker needles used to be manufactured in the USA by a religious lady who founded a business that included needle manufacture but I can't find any current information about them. Piecemakers have one drawback--they are only made in certain sizes as they are intended to be used in hand quilting. If you like to use sizes 18 or 20 tapestry needles or beading needles, Piecemakers doesn't have anything in that range (although you can substitute other needles from their line as size 28 tapestry needles often will go through larger beads). So I always buy 18 and 20 tapestry needles from Bohin and pick up their beading needles at the same time.
http://www.piecemakers.com/products.html/Piecemakers_Needles
If your local shop doesn't carry Bohin or Piecemaker needles, Waste Knot carries the Bohins and Needlewoman East has the Piecemakers. I'm sure they are available many other places, too, but these are the ones where I know they are since I buy them there.
http://wasteknotneedlepoint.com/
http://www.theneedlewomaneast.com/Welcome.html
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
http://trishburr.com/2012/05/24/english-needles-no-longer-made-in-england/
Mary Corbet picked up the discussion since she just broke a needle. I am hoping that Colonial Needle will see this discussion and respond to Mary's question as they distribute John James needles and may have more information as to their country of origin.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/05/the-broken-needle.html#more-14437
Mary has discovered the Bohin needles are still made in France as they've been since the 1830s.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/05/bohin-needles-company.html
I like John James needles and have used them for years. However, Piecemaker needles have always been my favorites until Bohin needles became available in my area. To me, Piecemakers and Bohin needles are equally desirable needles and they are the same price at my LNSs. Piecemaker needles used to be manufactured in the USA by a religious lady who founded a business that included needle manufacture but I can't find any current information about them. Piecemakers have one drawback--they are only made in certain sizes as they are intended to be used in hand quilting. If you like to use sizes 18 or 20 tapestry needles or beading needles, Piecemakers doesn't have anything in that range (although you can substitute other needles from their line as size 28 tapestry needles often will go through larger beads). So I always buy 18 and 20 tapestry needles from Bohin and pick up their beading needles at the same time.
http://www.piecemakers.com/products.html/Piecemakers_Needles
If your local shop doesn't carry Bohin or Piecemaker needles, Waste Knot carries the Bohins and Needlewoman East has the Piecemakers. I'm sure they are available many other places, too, but these are the ones where I know they are since I buy them there.
http://wasteknotneedlepoint.com/
http://www.theneedlewomaneast.com/Welcome.html
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
6 comments:
Mary Arden and S.Thomas & Sons, are also great needles, both make in the UK. Mary Arden is similar to John James, has petites, Tweens, beading, Chenille. You should give them a try. My favorite is S.Thomas & Sons, of course, slightly more expensive :)
Thanks for the tips, Sheena. I've never heard of either brand of needles!
Are you sure Mary Arden are made in England as the last packet was full of mixed needles and were very very brittle.
I have no idea about Mary Arden needles. I've never seen or heard of them. I did find this info about them in the link below. On the package it says Made in England. Nordic Needle doesn't sell packages of mixed sizes so I can't check what that package says.
http://www.nordicneedle.com/7035F.html
Mary Arden are made in England as far a I know. I have several packages of Mary Arden Tapestry & Tapestry Petites. On the packages I have they all say "Made in England". There is no Assembled in England made "elsewhere" on the label. The British address is listed along with a History of Needle Making on the area.
Thanks for the answer, Sheena. I wonder if Anon got a bad batch?
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