This is on my To Do List.
http://daleannepotter.com/wp-content...Organizer1.jpg

The tomato pincushion works for me. The paper in a plastic bags sound like a good idea as well - I would be afraid that putting them in a plastic bottle would dull the tips of the needles

Will be follwing this thread as well

This is what I do with the post-it notes. Write the needle info, stick the needle through the paper, stick it to the side of my sewing table if I think I'll use it again soon, or toss in a little drawer (the post-it only stays sticky for so long...;))

very good idea. Thanks for the tip.

This is my method. I just used a fine point permanent sharpie to mark the sections of my tomato pin cushion. I have one section marked "denim","universal", "quilting", "ball point", "sharps", etc. I've even divided sections to note different sizes of needles within a section.

My thought exactly. If I couldn't afford to toss a needle I probably shouldn't be quilting for the fun of it.

I keep them in the package they came in when they are dull or bent I through them out. I every now and then I sew over a pin and bend of break the needle

I bought a little plastic box with divided sections that are marked with the different needle sizes and types. It was on the notion s wall at Joann ETC.

use a different color sharpie for each type. For instance...blue is for sharps, red for ballpoint...then add a color for size...yellow is 11, green is for 12, etc.

i have small paper envelopes about a 3 by 3 size i write the size ond info on the envelope and put the needles inside, then i have a small plastic drawer thing on my sewing table next to my machine and they are right next to me when i need a needle

Ditto just what I do. Works great.

JoAnn's has a "tomato" pincushion that is already segmented for keeping your needles organized.

I have tried to use a magnifying glass and still have a hard time seeing the needle size. I guess my eyes are too old. LOL I have a tomato cushion also and have the different sizes marked on it with a sharpie. WHen I put a needle in my machine, I put a pin in the cushion, that way I always know what size needle is in my machine.

I purchased the "Needle Grabbit Machine Needle Organizer from Harriet's Treadle Arts (Harriet Hargrave) for $11.95 and it works great to solve exactly this problem.

Hope this helps: YELLOW is for stretch, BLUE is for jeans, PURPLE is for Microtex, GREEN is for quilting, RED is for embroidery (Schmetz needle guide colors).

Since I do free motion quilting and have been known to break needles while doing this, I use all of those random from the pin cushion needles when I know I am going to be breaking a few, then I don;t have to worry about it too much.

Well I hate to admit this too ... but i can't tell the difference in the needles when they are new in the case i just can't see it all i can tell is the size they all look alike to me I guess i need a magnifying glass... if the stitches look OK I use it...
Speaking of which .. the bottom of my sewing box has a lot of hand quilting needles and not only do i have bad eyes i have bad hands i will never use these they came from estate sales with items i did want. so if anyone uses them PM me and you can have them. What is the difference in quilting needles and just small sewing needles ??

Each needle has the size stamped in the shaft, you need a magnifying glass to see it, good light, it is on th top of the needla, but it does not identify the type (metallic, ball pointy, top stitch) just the size (75/11, 80/12 etc.)

My decision as to what to do with those used needles
 

WOW!! I never thought I would have as many comments to my original question so decided to let everyone know what I ended up doing. I got out my magnifying glass and after seeing what size each needle was I stuck them one at a time into a sticky note after noting the size, brand and type needle ( if it had a colored band that I could be
100% certain what kind of needle it was). I only had 24 needles to identify! So tomorrow I will make a needle book. I had previously quilted two beautiful fat quarters together about the size of a placemat so will cut it to size, cut felt 'pages' adding more than I think I will need and sew them into a book. Oh yes, I plan on embroidering each page with the size needle and type ie. embroidery, ballpoint, etc.

When going through all these needles I decided to assume none of the needles were ballpointor for embroider as I just couldn't tell with absolute certainty if any were ballpoint or embroidery needles and if fabric would be ruined from an improper needle it would be a knit or a delicate embroidery. So from this day forward I will not be so lazy and as I use a needle I will place it in my new needle book.

Thanks to everyone for their input and suggestions. Since I have told everyone of my laziness and pledge to do better I will be religious about doing this. If there weren't that many needles I would have just thrown them away however I could just feel my Mom rolling over in her grave at my waistfullness! LOL

I get sticky notes & put it thru the paper & write the size & when I took it out & hang it above my machine I do this when I take it out of the case,

Singer has a pink needle cushion which I picked up at Walmart. It is divided into sections like: Denim. Ball Point -Knit, Ball Point Heavy weight, etc. You can sort by hours used. And you can change you sections to accommodate your type of sewing. Now if Singer can do it, why can't we? Same principal as Up North and Sunnye posted.

Wow, Scissor Queen what a great idea... I use a medicine divider so similar to yours but the button idea is great... I have just been writing what's in my machine on masking tape and sticking it on the machine...

I always put the needle back in the case it came from. I always pull a new needle from the left side of the case. I always know the the needle on the left is either slightly used or new. When a needle needs to be replaced I put it in a medicine bottle marked used and when it is full I toss it out.

I also keep my needle pkgs. stored in an ice cube tray in a drawer near my machine. The ice cube tray also hols my assorted presser feet.
peace