I'm using John James 10s and am going right through them.

Have a loose tension and am only doing a couple stitches at a time, but am going through a lot of seams so maybe that's my problem. I hate just throwing away all these needles! I'm going through them like one every day or two. :-/

Use a stronger needle, like a #9 or 8. Won't affect your stitch size.

No way to straighten them that I know of. You may want to do stab stitching when you get to a seam to make your needles last longer.

I have straightened needles with a tweezer and a small vise.

I've never heard of straightening them but maybe you should try a heavier size 9. Maybe they won't bend as easily. If it doesn't go all the way thru at some of the seams, it's not the end of the world. Where are those quilting police anyway?lol

I use them for hand sewing when they are bent, but have never found a way to straighten them.

i use my bent needles- it seems like they (fit my finger) better once it has a curve in it- but if it bugs you toss them- and perhaps either switch to a stronger needle- or a different brand.

I'm just learning to hand quilt and was told you can bend them slightly and carefully. I prefer a little curve to the needle when hand quilting.

Oops I just realized you were asking how to straighten, Not how to bend... Sorry!:oops: :oops: :oops:

If hubby does not have a vise, grip one end in a pair of pliers & then use a 2nd pair of pliers to straighten the needle.

I have bent them too, while quilting. Some I 'try' to straighten, others I pitch. Sometimes a bent needle isn't too bad.

I used to straighten them but I don't bother anymore. Once they're bent and then straightened, they tend to bend again more easily. What's worse is that they break more easily, too!

I use #8s for hand quilting and can bend and break them regularly because of the way I quilt. I can go through 2-3 packets quilting one quilt. Have never straightened them, just toss them away.

A fish-hook maker like me, huh? I have switched to a John James "size 11 mi-longues". They are still nice and thin (like the 12's) but they are a shorter needle. I figured out that I was bending needles because I was loading too many stitches on the needle. The shorter needle length doesn't allow me to do that. I've tried the John James betweens that come in the itty bitty envelopes but they fish-hook on me in no time. I've tried unbending them but end up with grooves along the length of the needle that catches on the fabric.

does straight into the trash can count?

I was having that problem w/ John James needles. I am always trying new needles just because. My new favorite needle is from Jeana Kimball's Foxglove Cottage. I use Betweens/Quilting Size 10. The needle is shorter, but a bit thicker/stronger than I find John James. Took me a bit of time to get used to the shorter needle, but I'm happy.

You can find them online. I originally found them in an out of town quilt store.

I am not aware you can straighten a needle successfuly.
If you are having the problem constantly I suggest you write The Colonial Needle Company in White Plains NY. they distribute the needle and might have some suggestions for you and a recommendation for a substitution.

I bend alot of them when I'm hand quilting. I was working on a wholecloth quilt until my hand surgery in 2004 (and no, it's not done yet, about 2/3 of the way there). I would bend them on a regular basis. It's hard to use them when they get bent. They keep wanting to turn in your hand. I would go for a stronger, larger needle. I always used betweens. They were between all right. Between me and the trash can. LOL

Ok, thanks for the input, everyone. Looks like I will probably just have to accept going through a lot of needles. Seems like in the past I didn't have this problem... And I thought 25 betweens in a pack was a lot and wondered why on earth you would need so many!