Dale (who is my twin in many ways, particularly when it comes to Acid Hands) is talking needles. I can't get the Comments to work on her blog but I am happy to publicly state that I love both Piecemaker and Bohin needles. For me, there is no difference between them except that Piecemakers don't come in as many sizes. You can even get beading needles from Bohin but Piecemakers are limited to tapestry sizes 22, 24, 26 and 28 (plus chenille needles which I like to use for ribbon embroidery). Whoops! Piecemakers has beading needles now (see second link). That makes it even harder to choose a favorite.
http://www.canvasesbegone.com/blog/needles-what-do-you-like/
http://www.piecemakers.com/products.html/Piecemakers_Needles
In case you missed it, here is Ruth Schmuff's posting about the needle sizer cards.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/07/id-that-needle.html
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
Showing posts with label Bohin needles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bohin needles. Show all posts
Monday, August 6, 2012
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Do Your Beads Run Away?
Labels:
beads,
Bohin needles
Do you stab yourself a whole lot when using a long sharp beading needle? Have you gone blind trying to thread a beading needle? Have you done more French knots that you thought humanly possible on one piece just so you don't have to open a box or tube of beads? Which will immediately jump out of said box or tube and fly all over the room? Do you avoid any piece that requires beads because you just can't stand beading any more?
Ann might have a solution.
http://stitchingfoolishness.blogspot.com/2011/08/in-praise-of-needle.html
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
Ann might have a solution.
http://stitchingfoolishness.blogspot.com/2011/08/in-praise-of-needle.html
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Threading Beading Needles
LauraZee posted a comment on the Blog article that mentioned Pace needles saying that she had trouble threading a beading needle. Since Comments are not working quite right this morning, I thought I'd answer LauraZee's comment here.
Sometimes changing to another brand of beading needle helps. Some have larger eyes than others (although a large eye isn't much help with tiny beads). Vicky DeAngelis says she likes Bohin beading needles and Mary Arden beading needles. Looks like Mary Arden needles (which I've never heard of before) are English needles distributed by Colonial Needle.
http://www.colonialneedle.com/cgi-bin/quikstore.cgi?category=NEEDLES_-_Beading&search=yes
Bohin beading needles are imported from France. By the way, John James beading needles are very popular because they are the normal needle length instead of being three inches long like most beading needles you find at fabric stores. Personally I love the longer needles but not everyone does.
http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Accessories/Needles.html
I use the old wire loop threaders to thread my beading needle. I buy them whenever I see them because they seem to be harder to get. After I open the package of threaders, I line them up on a sheet of waxed paper on the kitchen counter, then put a drop of Super Glue on the base where the wire attaches. This makes them last a lot longer.
http://assistivetech.net/search/productDisplay.php?product_id=39966
I hope some of these ideas help you with your beads, Laura!
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
Sometimes changing to another brand of beading needle helps. Some have larger eyes than others (although a large eye isn't much help with tiny beads). Vicky DeAngelis says she likes Bohin beading needles and Mary Arden beading needles. Looks like Mary Arden needles (which I've never heard of before) are English needles distributed by Colonial Needle.
http://www.colonialneedle.com/cgi-bin/quikstore.cgi?category=NEEDLES_-_Beading&search=yes
Bohin beading needles are imported from France. By the way, John James beading needles are very popular because they are the normal needle length instead of being three inches long like most beading needles you find at fabric stores. Personally I love the longer needles but not everyone does.
http://www.needlestack.com/WebStore/Accessories/Needles.html
I use the old wire loop threaders to thread my beading needle. I buy them whenever I see them because they seem to be harder to get. After I open the package of threaders, I line them up on a sheet of waxed paper on the kitchen counter, then put a drop of Super Glue on the base where the wire attaches. This makes them last a lot longer.
http://assistivetech.net/search/productDisplay.php?product_id=39966
I hope some of these ideas help you with your beads, Laura!
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
Sunday, November 14, 2010
UPDATED: Testing Needles (or, The Mad Scientist Speaks)
Labels:
Bohin needles,
needles,
Piecemaker needles,
reviews
You may remember that the last LNS visit I made I picked up two packets of Bohin tapestry needles to test. I started using some of the needles (I bought size 22 and 24, the sizes I use on 18 canvas the most) when I started Luna. Now that I've been working on her for a while, it's time to review the needles.
http://www.creweljewels.com/Bohin-Tapestry-Needles-p/73001.htm
The link below talks a bit about Bohin. Their needles are made in France and are very smooth to the touch. The packets I bought had six needles to a pack . I believe that Bohin sells tapestry needles in sizes 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28. I forgot to make a note of all the sizes available when I bought these at Waste Knot, however.
http://www.creweljewels.com/Bohin-France-s/59.htm
As long time members of Blog know, I have very acidic hands. It only took me about three hours of stitching to start to wear away the metal coating on my Kreink gold needles. The John James platinum needles showed wear after maybe 5-6 days of stitching. So far the Bohin needles show no sign of wear under my magnifier although they don't feel quite as slick as they did when I started using them.
They are not pretty like the gold needles are, however. There are no burrs in the eye and the coating of the surface stands up to my hands. Are they my favorite needles? Well, no.
I prefer Piecemaker needles when I have a choice because they last as well as Bohin needles plus they are very smooth and silky to the touch. I prefer how they feel in my hands. However, Piecemakers
are made for quilting and as far as I know, you can't buy size 18 or 20 tapestry needles from them. Here is the Piecemaker website.
http://www.piecemakers.com/products.html/Piecemakers_Needles?zenid=a2181e883db046f97e4778395ae97b93
If you are curious about Bohin needles and your local shop doesn't have them, I know you can get them at Waste Knot. They are around $2 a packet, which is what Piecemaker needles cost me.
http://www.wasteknotneedlepoint.com/
Whatever brand necdle you like, remember to discard needles after each project or two. Amy Bunger wrote in a Needlepoint Plus article long ago that stitchers use their needles too long. They are not expensive but if you have hands like mine, it is essential that you switch to new needles frequently. If you don't have acid hands, you should still be using new needles periodically.
Save the used needles. We'll do a Festival of Broken Needles ceremony next February again to honor them before we get rid of them.
UPDATE: A friend told me she doesn't like the feel of the needles. She thinks they feel ridged instead of rounded and after a while, they hurt her fingers. The eye is very smooth and great for silk and cotton flosses, though.
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow
http://www.creweljewels.com/Bohin-Tapestry-Needles-p/73001.htm
The link below talks a bit about Bohin. Their needles are made in France and are very smooth to the touch. The packets I bought had six needles to a pack . I believe that Bohin sells tapestry needles in sizes 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28. I forgot to make a note of all the sizes available when I bought these at Waste Knot, however.
http://www.creweljewels.com/Bohin-France-s/59.htm
As long time members of Blog know, I have very acidic hands. It only took me about three hours of stitching to start to wear away the metal coating on my Kreink gold needles. The John James platinum needles showed wear after maybe 5-6 days of stitching. So far the Bohin needles show no sign of wear under my magnifier although they don't feel quite as slick as they did when I started using them.
They are not pretty like the gold needles are, however. There are no burrs in the eye and the coating of the surface stands up to my hands. Are they my favorite needles? Well, no.
I prefer Piecemaker needles when I have a choice because they last as well as Bohin needles plus they are very smooth and silky to the touch. I prefer how they feel in my hands. However, Piecemakers
are made for quilting and as far as I know, you can't buy size 18 or 20 tapestry needles from them. Here is the Piecemaker website.
http://www.piecemakers.com/products.html/Piecemakers_Needles?zenid=a2181e883db046f97e4778395ae97b93
I expect I will buy size 18 and 20 Bohin needles and sizes 22, 24, 26 and 28 Piecemakers from now on due to how well both brands hold up to my acid fingers.
If you are curious about Bohin needles and your local shop doesn't have them, I know you can get them at Waste Knot. They are around $2 a packet, which is what Piecemaker needles cost me.
http://www.wasteknotneedlepoint.com/
Whatever brand necdle you like, remember to discard needles after each project or two. Amy Bunger wrote in a Needlepoint Plus article long ago that stitchers use their needles too long. They are not expensive but if you have hands like mine, it is essential that you switch to new needles frequently. If you don't have acid hands, you should still be using new needles periodically.
Save the used needles. We'll do a Festival of Broken Needles ceremony next February again to honor them before we get rid of them.
UPDATE: A friend told me she doesn't like the feel of the needles. She thinks they feel ridged instead of rounded and after a while, they hurt her fingers. The eye is very smooth and great for silk and cotton flosses, though.
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow
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