I have been sewing for over 40 years and have endured many complaints from my family over dropped needles and pins that they have found on the carpet with their feet - it was my turn on Weds. nite. Unfortunately I thought it was just a "poke" and walked around on my foot on Thursday, unknowingly forcing the needle deeper into the bottom of my foot. After an x-ray on Friday afternoon revealed the needle deeply imbedded, I spent the next few hours in the emergency room while they determined the best course of action. A surgeon with a flouoroscope-sp? was called in to remove the needle and two minutes after he made the incision he found it! Needless to say after a weekend with my foot up and no sewing I have learned my lesson - slippers on at all times and pick up those needles (and pins) whenever they are dropped!