What type and size needle to use for some hand sewing?
 

I need to do some hand sewing on batik fabric. It is always a real pain to try and stitch this so I thought maybe I could find a finer or better needle to use. I make neckties and I need to hand stitch the backs. Of course, as luck would have it, the batik fabric is the most popular:( If you could include a brand and size, that would be helpful. I mostly sew on my machine and am not knowledgeable about the various types of hand sewing needles like quilting needles vs betweens vs sharps, etc. I tried to Google the question but just got more confused. Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.

For hand sewing, I use sharps or straw needles, size 10 or 11. I like John James, but Foxglove Studios is also a good brand. I find these are sharper than other other needles and go through batiks easily.

Janet

The only hand sewing needles I get real picky about are hand quilting needles. Otherwise I have two or three of those giant variety packs and pick whichever one suits the fabric, thread and project I'm working on.

i generally use John James Sharps- in about a size 10 for fine hand work. sometimes Roxanne's but more often John James- mainly because that is what is available locally. i use straw's or milners if i want a longer needle.

I use a #8 embroidery needle, because its easier to thread, except for applique then I use applique or straw needles.

I use John James in size 9. although I sometimes need a needle threader late at night, I like it because it glides through the fabric.

I recently hand quilted 100% batik quilt with W&N batting. I use either #11 or #12 Roxanne's. #11's are definitely easier to thread and a bit stiffer than the #12's. But if you need really fine needles the 12's might work for you. Just make sure you get the Roxanne threaders if you're going to use #12's. Normal wire threaders will NOT fit through the eye of the needle on the #12. I can thread #11's without a threader using hand quilting thread.

I only have Roxanne brand needles for hand sewing. I like a #10 sharp for all hand stitching. I haven't used any other brand I like better.

Thank you for all the responses. I have gone through and plan to order one or two pkgs of needles online since I live nowhere near a quilt shop. The needles I have are SO old and I think because of that, they may not be as sharp as they once were plus they are very cheap ones. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.