OK..I read a tute somewhere and they said it was easier to hand sew binding on with straw needles. I thought it would be easy to find these so I didnt keep tute (other than the needle I knew how to do the binding - the tute didnt tell me much more than I already knew)

All the noition and fabric stores where I shop have never heard of these needles They just give me these strange looks!! lol Anyone know the technical name for them.?? They are metal I think but more flexible than your regular sewing/quilting needle.

Please help - cant bear the blank stares I get from shop clerks any more :shock:

Thanks cheryl :-D :thumbup:

I think they're also called milliners needles - they're long and thin. I use them for applique and for sewing binding.

Janet

They might know them better as Milliners needles.

I needed them for a hand applique class and found them at Joanns in a size-variety pack. Also on the internet. My LQS had them in the single size I wanted.

This is how you might see them packaged.

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/p...RODID=prd50016

http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?prod_id=2280

Straw Needles

Best known for use in hand applique, the Straw needle has a narrow shank that glides easily through several layers of fabric. Since the eye of the needle is punched within the existing shank, it does hesitate at the eye when pulled through fabric. The Straw needle is also useful for basting, hand piecing, and applique

This might help!

See if this helps:

http://www.shiboridragon.com/FoxgloveCottage.htm

It gives a bit of explanation for these needles and you can purchase from them also.

ask for Roxannes or John James. they are called straw needles...they are thin, tiny, costly and break easily, so there is no real need to use them for binding..Just use a regular every day sewing needles!

I do lots of applique so I've gotten use to the feel of these needles. I now find that I love to use them for nearly any hand sewing since I like to make tiny little stitches.

Cheryl, thanks for asking your question. I couldn't find them either.

I love my John James straw needles use them for all my hand work, they just have a great feel to them and they don't shread the thread like some needles do. Just MHO

Thanks to all who gave me the websites - at least now I know what I am looking for!!! It is mnuch appreciated!!! Cheryl :-D :thumbup: