Look in the needlework department of Hobby Lobby or Michaels for a needle with a bent hook on the end. Seems to me I needed that type of needle for a certain project in stitching. Or ask DH to bend the end of a darning needle for you. Might be hard to do but give it a try. I will ask mine to try it. A half inch from the end should do the trick. If the needle is tempered steel, it won't bend.
We might be onto something here. We tie quilts at our church and a bent needle might work for some of the ladies.
Carol J.