Embroidery gals Help me embellish this art piece
 

I'm doing a Tuscan wall as a quilt assignment in my fibre group and I decided I would embroider wisteria blossoms in French Knots over the wall. But I'm having a terrible time hanging on to the needles and pulling it through the 5000 knots I'll need. My knots aren't too tight.
My backing is a thick canvas and its driving me crazy, (not withstanding the cramping my hand is experiencing. ) I tried rubber gloves and in addition to feeling like the Michelin Man I pierced them several time (OPPS they were my husbands for when he sterilizes his wine bottles)
Any suggestions. MY wisteria is looking SOOO good but its will take me months of frustration to do this tiny detail.
Thanks
MaryKatherine

I find that if the needle is getting hard to pull through the fabric I usually keep a bar of soap handy and occasionally stick the needle in it. That's what we did with diaper pins. Of course that was decades ago. I'm not sure you can even buy cloth diapers anymore. Good Luck!

maybe also try to sharpen the needle with emery bags

I like Tartan's idea or can you use a larger eyed needle and yarn -- assuming you are using floss. I did a red bud tree one time and appliquéd all these little circles on it for blooms. Had to do a few at a time to not go blind - lol.

I thought I'd include a picture to see what I'm up against. I'm using 3 strands and a 3 wrap knot. Standard I think?
I started out with a short needle to maximize the usable thread. My problem is pulling the needle through after the wrap. I can't grasp it securely. But I have the empty wall on the left to fill. Sigh
The best solution I've come up with so far is a rubber band wound alternately around my thump and forefinger. (switching when the blood supply seems compromised... What we do for Art??)
I DO intend to add beads but they were intended as accent, after the vines are in place.
This may take awhile (poor fingers)
MaryKatherine

It will be beautiful! I'm no help in what to do but if you can just do a few at a time (do you have that much time?) maybe it wouldn't be so painful. Good luck ~ I'd love to see it finished!

It's going to be stunning. Maybe break down and use a longer needle. Maybe try a thinner one...

I use a small jewelry pliers to pull the needle through.

It will be beautiful -- make sure you have a sharp needle, maybe that would help.

It is going to be very beautiful. Could you mix the knots you are making with silk ribbon embroidery knots so you didn't have to do so many of the little ones? Just an idea I thought of.

I've never used silk ribbon. I should think the knots might be overly large?
MK

I just bought a pkg. of 2 needle grippers by BOHIN for $1.59 at my LQS. I do a lot of hand buttonhole stitching on fusible applique and sometimes need to use one. They work great!!

Get some thin balloons. I bought mine at the dollar store. Cut the end (not the one you blow up) off about 1-1/2" long, and use that piece as a thimble on your finger. You can use several if you need to. I know the feeling. I would not use pliers of any kind because it will dull your needle. Another type of needle you could use is the long (6" of so) one that upholstery people use to attach the buttons. You can buy them at Joanns if you have one close. Keep the balloons handy, when one is all used up, cut another one. I have used this method for about 30 years. It is a natural thing for me to do. Also, you can try those rubber fingers you can buy at Staples. They are normally used when paging papers or money in an office. I keep them on hand too if I need them. I would try any of these. Good luck. It will be beautiful in the end. Another idea is to push several needles thru at different places from the back and then go to the front and pull them thru.

Use a pair of artery forceps (haemostats) to pull the needle through

The small jewelry pliers would be your best bet, no more sore fingers.

I keep a hemostat clamp handy for things like this. Just grab the needle and pull it through the fabric. I think they are available at Fabricland or maybe Lens Mills.

Try a large milliners needle. The eye on most needles is larger than the shaft. On milliners the eye is pretty much the same size as the shaft and should make it easier to pull through the fabric.