Sewing Needle Description

• Sewing needles are designed to optimize the quality of stitches sewn into an array of fabrics. They feature a narrow opening called an "eye" through which to insert thread. Regular sewing needles come in different sizes for use with different fabrics. Though most sewing needles feature a sharp, pointed end, some needle types have been designed for sewing special materials. Ball point needles feature a rounded point for sewing into elastic and knitted fabrics with large stitches. Wedge point needles create holes in leather and vinyl material that close once the needle is passed through the material, eliminating unsightly holes and damage from sewing stitches.
  
  

Sewing Needle Uses

• Sewing needles allow you to sew stitches by hand into nearly every kind of fabric. They are used to stitch pieces of cloth together and to attach buttons and other embellishments to the surface of fabrics. Size 9 needles are best suited for sewing delicate cloth, size 14 needles are ideal for medium-weight fabric and size 18 needles work best with heavy material. Needles with lower size ratings are shorter and thinner than needles with larger size ratings.
  
  

Beading Needle Description

• Beading needles differ from sewing needles in their shape and application. Beading needles are typically longer and finer than sewing needles. The length of a beading needle allows you to string multiple beads at the same time onto the thread inserted through the needle's eye. Like sewing needles, beading needles come in size ratings that suit different purposes. Almost all beading needles look similar to each other. The exception is a special needle with a large, expanding eye in the middle of the needle's body that is used for threading thick fibers such as yarn, ribbon and twine.
  
  

Beading Needle Uses

• Beading needles are used primarily as aids for making jewelry. A beading needle allows you to string multiple beads onto a thread inserted through the needle's eye. Beading needles are also used to weave together beaded strands to create patterned designs. They are also used to embroider beads onto fabric, though some people prefer to use short, sturdier sewing needles over long, flexible beading needles for this purpose. Needles with lower size ratings are larger than those with higher ratings. A size 10 needle is useful for working with bigger beads and thick threads while a size 15 needle is best suited for very small beads and fine threads.