I have seen these advertised several times and places. Has anyone bought these and what did you think about them?

http://www.spiraleyeneedles.com/?gcl...FR4UagodxGdRmg

I have a set of these needles. They are great for burying knots during longarm stitching. I have tried, several times, to use for general hand sewing but the thread keeps fraying at the needle eye.

I did write to the company and they said to send the needles back and they would fix it but I didn't bother. I think the needle eye needs to be a bit more polished.

I saw some in a store, but they were pricey, so I didn't get any. Maybe another time, with a coupon!

Having worked with metals, I was wondering about the shredding too.... But I can see where they would be a plus for burying the knots!!!

well, I have never heard of them. Are they for hand quilting?

Why are they so pricey? I mean $10 for two needle? I'll have to be convinced they are worth that. I have a lot of the self threading needles that I bought on clearance before they were discontinued at WalMart. I haven't seen them anywhere, are they still for sale? They are very useful.

I believe that they are hand made, or were when I last looked them up. I like that they are so easy to thread, but if I get one, it will have to have it's own special case :wink: and guard it like the pioneer women guarded theirs!!!

They had numerous sizes available on their website, I don't hand quilt, so I am not sure what size is used.

I wouldn't use them for hand quilting. As Crashnquilt said, they are great for burying knots when machine quilting. For some quilts, you don't want to have your starts and stops show, so you tie the bottom and top thread together, then thread in between the layers of the quilt, popping the knot into the fabric. It doesn't take very many and you will really like the spiral eye needle.

I did try the traditional self threading needed, but 1) it shredded my thread and 2) after 100 or so knots my fingers were real sore with the two little spikes on the top of the needle. The spiral eye needed threads on the side, so your fingers have a nice rounded to push instead of two little spikes.

I did not know that about the other self threading needles...I would hate to get my fingers tore up, too!!!

Doesn't sound like something i would want then, not at those prices!

I am thrilled to see the conversations about my needle on the web. The eye of the Spiral Eye needle is "cut" out and that can leave sharp edges. We do have a deburring process, but once in a while one gets through that shreds thread. I do replace those whenever someone tells me they have that. I ask for the bad one back so we can look under a microscope to figure out ways to improve the process.

Well how cool is that!?!

I imagine you could take a fingernail file or emery board and file down any of the rough spots you find. I've heard of others doing this to regular needles when it has a rough spot from being punched when making the hole. I've never done it though so I don't know personally if this works well or not.

Actually, after burying a ton of thread knots from machine quilting, I'm definitely going to put this needle on my "To Get" list! It'd also make a great gift for a few of my friends who do a lot of machine quilting.

Oh, also, to explain the cost I have to ask you to forget it is a needle and think of it as a solution. Needles are all made cheaply overseas, plated with nickel and made by low wage earners. My needles are made in Minnesota where the shop time is $75/hr. It was a political/emotional choice I made to have my needles made in the US. The down side is the cost.

However, having said that, I have had needle manufacturers appoach me and when they try to find someon who can make the eye they back out because they cannot get it done anywhere. Most manufacturing companies wonder how I can get them made so cheaply.

I understand the cost hits people hard, but honestly, I don't have much profit in it. That is why you don't see them in a lot of stores. I cannot give the stores the mark up they want because my costs are so high.

Buy them or not, but just know I am doing everything I can to make the best product available.

Spiral Eye Needles can be smoothed or even sharpened with an emery board because they are solid surgical stainless steel. The shredding she was talking about occurs inside the eye where the cutting edge is not knocked down. Sometimes running wire or plastic fishing line back and forth inside takes the burr off.

Traditional needles will rust if you use an emery board on them.

Thank you Pam for explaining this to us!!! Some of my quilts I have to bury knots and I think this would make it much easier and quicker. I appreciate that you will take a needle back if there is a burr. I don't mind purchasing a needle that is going to last me a long time with this kind of guarantee :D :D :D

I've used them and they are bad for shredding your thread. Also, they aren't sharp to me. I've tried sharpening them a little on an emery board and it helps a little but they still are not sharp at all. For burying knots the old fashion kind seem to work better for me. I have two I'll give someone for the asking. Just PM me with your address.

I did not know that. Interesting!

I think when I do get a chance to order one (it'll have to be after the holidays), I'll take it to my local guild meeting and brag about it. Hopefully that will help generate some sales for you. I know of several gals who would just love something like this, besides myself that is. :lol:

Thanks Pam! I will now think of the story behind the needles when I see them. Hobby Lobby has them here and I will buy a package. I like your quilting spirit, you are doing something for sewers and I for one will support your efforts.

PM sent! Thanks! :-D

I am going to look for your needles. If it will bury the knotes, I am ALL for it. Thanks for making an American product. You did the right thing, and kept it in the states. You go girl!

Joan, if you are unhappy with my product, why didn't you contact me? The only way for me to improve it is if I know someone has a problem. Send them to me and I will glady refund or exhcange them. My address is on the website.

I hope you are not referring to me..ctmhjen..I am the one that wants to BUY your needle. I am dying to try it, so will look for it when I go shopping tomorrow.

No, I was responding to NiceNCLady who said she had trouble with my needles shredding. Hobby Lobby is the only store that carries them. You can order on line from me or Nancy's Notions or Herrschners.

And the website to order from you??? Joanie

Ladies, the needles I offered to send to someone are going out today. Tiffany is quick on the keyboard. lol I may try them again later on down the road but right now they just aren't for me.

Thanks for the tip about removing the burrs. I was trying to figure out how I could smooth out the eye on mine. I have two sets of them and they all have this problem.

Pam, here is suggestion for a new needle style, a curved needle. That would make burying knots so much easier. I'd GLADLY purchase one of those!

I love these needles. I have a puff pillow quilt that I've been hand sewing and these needles are a god send. You don't have to waste time trying to thread the needle and they go through fabric like a dream. In fact, I had sewn so much with the first one, had to order more. The price is well justified, even from the simple price of saving time. I haven't had any problems with the thread fraying, so it probably was an odd bad needle.

If you or anyone has a problem with my needles please contact me at www.spiraleyeneedles.com.

I am working on making surgical needles, which are curved. Once I have those figured out, I will have curved ones for craft sewing to sell. There is a great deal of geometry and prototyping for each size and type so it may be a year yet.

Thanks for all the info! I will have to get some of these for myself! :)

wow, lots of information, just found this thread tonight as Holice was talking about it that the inventer of the spiral eyed needle had posted on this thread

I haven't seen the spiral eyed needle

I have one of these, which I found at the MN Quilt Show last June. It works so much better than the other style of easy threading needle I'd used previously. Since you thread it from the side, the thread stays in the eye and doesn't pull out like it did with the other style, where you pull the thread thru the end of the eye. With the other style, it was frustrating to use, since one or both of the threads would come out of the eye when I was pulling the thread thru the fabric to hide a knot.

I use them and they are great!

I am using the needle now for burying knots. While they are pricy, I brelieve the price is worth it in the time and frustration saved in trying to thread hand needles. I am using the largest size for this although I have all three sizes. I machine quilted a 49"x61" quilt with the shell pattern (Baptist Fan design) so there are dozens of tails to be buried. The Spiral needle sure makes it faster and easier.

Going out today to see if I can find them.

[quote=PamTurner]Oh, also, to explain the cost I have to ask you to forget it is a needle and think of it as a solution. Needles are all made cheaply overseas, plated with nickel and made by low wage earners. My needles are made in Minnesota where the shop time is $75/hr. It was a political/emotional choice I made to have my needles made in the US. The down side is the cost.

For this reason I change my opinion, I support anyone making a concious decision to have a product made in the USA, I Will pay extra when I know this is the case!!!!! Thank you for keeping your bussines in Amarica.

Rae, Proud American

PS
I know there are members from other countries on this board, I mean no disrespect . I am sure you feel the same about your country. I just feel moved to stand up when I ,as a low to middle class American see good people like my dad who is fast approaching 70 yrs continue to have to go to work in the factory every day. I will get off my soapbox, I just wanted to explain a little since We have members from other Countries, that I mean no disrespect.
Rae