| High quality embroidery needles are expensive, but are | | | | Sharps |
| more than worth the investment, for they will make | | | | These general, all-purpose needles are useful for |
| your work a pleasure. Carelessly made embroidery | | | | hand-finishing and basting. |
| needles have small imperfections that can snag your | | | | Some other embroidery tools you might find useful in |
| fabric and threads from previous stitching. | | | | your stitching projects include the following. |
| The larger the number, the smaller/finer the needle | | | | Needle Threaders |
| (milliners are exceptions). If the needle is too large, it's | | | | These tiny, inexpensive tools are wonderful time |
| difficult to pass easily through the fabric and may | | | | savers; keep one handy as you work. |
| produce sloppy-looking stitches. If too small, it damages | | | | Embroidery Scissors |
| the thread, even to the point of breakage, with each | | | | Reserve your scissors for needlework only and keep |
| stitch you take. | | | | them with your other stitching tools. Have them |
| Crewel (Embroidery) | | | | professionally sharpened when they become dull. Use |
| These are the shortest needles used for embroidery, | | | | these for clipping threads and removing mistakes. |
| and are sized from 1 (the largest) to 10 (the smallest). | | | | (Never use a seam ripper for the latter.) Use a |
| Chenille | | | | scissors sheath or case to protect the points and |
| These sharp-pointed needles have large eyes for | | | | prevent them from stabbing other items in your |
| easy threading, and are sized from 13 (the largest) | | | | stitching bag or basket. If you stitch with metallic and |
| through 26 (the smallest). | | | | synthetic fibers, consider a second pair of embroidery |
| Tapestry | | | | scissors that are old and duller than your fine ones. (If |
| These blunt pointed needles will not pierce the fabric | | | | you only have one good pair, don't cut these fibers |
| sufficiently for most embroidery stitches but are useful | | | | using the tips of the scissors; cut closer to the base of |
| when you need to weave an additional thread on the | | | | the blade.) |
| surface of already completed stitches. They're sized | | | | Tweezers |
| the same as chenille needles. | | | | Very useful for picking out threads when you're |
| Beading | | | | correcting mistakes. |
| These narrow needles have very fine eyes which can | | | | Thimbles |
| pass easily through the holes of beads, and are | | | | These embroiderer's aids prevent callused and |
| available in both long and short lengths. | | | | punctured fingertips, but are a personal preference. |
| Millners | | | | Shears |
| These long needles have the same diameter along the | | | | Use dressmaker's shears for cutting your fabrics. |
| entire length; use them to execute Bullion Knots. | | | | |