I have just got some Clover Black Gold Appliqué / Sharps needles. They are really really nice and I would recommend them. They also do some Betweens ( I didn't buy them this time - but I will )and you can get different sizes in them both.
DottyD

Stupid question: are those needles by any chance black??
Doing handquilting I have sometimes really a hard time to see how much my needle is already out of the fabric as the light reflects in the needle.
I was even thinking of somehow trying to paint the needle black...........
Granny

Yes they are black and they just glide through the fabric !

I've tried the Black Gold Betweens for hand quilting and I can also recommend them. Their dark color contrasts very well agains light colored fabric and this can be very helpful.