I teach hand embroidery at a local quilt shop and have been doing a lot of hand embroidery for five years. The best needles (hands down) are available at
www.redworkplus.com. Bird Brain and Crabapple Hill also offer these needles on their websites. They are the only needle I know of that is tapered from the tip to the eye. These needles are awesome not just for embroidery but for everything. They come in a matchbook sort of container. Try these, you'll not go back!