Originally Posted by gale
I usually throw them away but I have a place where I keep some gently used needles, and if I'm making something small-like a mug rug or a headband or something, I use them for that.
If they are broken or bent, I give them to a friend who disposes of them in the medical waste bin at her office. It's the safest way to get rid of sharps in my view.
I sharpen the used needles in an emery "strawberry" (like the ones that hand off the tomato pin cusions) and use them for flannel or felt projects.
If they're gently used, I do what "gale" does - put them aside for projects and crafts that don't require a super-sharp point. I also use them to teach my grandkids to sew; they stitch paper, following lines and curves.