i prefer Perle Cotton for wool applique- i do have some wool flosses which i also use if the color is right- the wool floss is not shiny like the perle cotton- i have about 100 colors in perle cottons- and 3 different weights and very much like working with it. as for needles- i use a size 22 chenille -often- at times i do use a different size- but generally chenille needles- they have a sharp point- good length for working with thicker fabrics & a large eye to make threading the thicker flosses/threads easy.