I use #20 embroid. needles for tying my quilt with crochet cotton. I wax the needles, but they do seem to "dull" fairly quickly. Does anyone know of a way to sharpen them? I've seen the 'pad' from Clotilde on here, but when I check their site, it is no longer available.

Much appreciated if you can help.

Do they still make the 'strawberry' that used to come with the 'tomato' pincushion? That was supposed to sharpen your pins and needles.

Yes they do I just bought one at WM last week.

Rub them over fine steel wool, that hhelps some.

I use the strawberry but I also learned to scratch it over my head. Sounds silly, but it works!

The oil from your scalp and hair is transferred to the pins.I also will CAREFULLY rub the open blades of my scissors over my hair to lightly oil them so they work better.

Say what??!! Just rub it on your scalp?

Do the 'strawberries' have sand it them? I don't have one at present.

OK, so the scalp oil lubricates them. I use a candle for that, but the points are getting dull. I'll try the strawberry. Worried about taking the finish off with steel wool ?? Is it a problem?

I really don't know if it takes the finish off. I would think not. I"m talking the very very fine steel wool, it is used for the finishing rub on furniture finishes to remove any dust particles. It doesn"t leave any marks. But, if the finish does come off, you are probably going to throw away a dull needle anyway.

the strawberries have emery in them so the needles are sharpened each time you use it. rubbing a pin or needles lightly over your hair does work. sand in a cushion would probably work like the emery.

You can buy just the strawberry filled with emory particles. Be sure to squeeze the strawberry as you run the needles in and out. Only just found that out recently!!

The strawberry sharpens needles. I use it all the time.
Running a needle thur your hair does help. No idea how works why. These old ideas from the past still work today.

Thanks, all, enough ideas to make me test them out!

Back in the days when I was growing up and learning to sew (in the '50s) and our shoes had leather soles, Mom and I would put out needles on the worn part of the threshold between rooms. Then we would rub the soles of our shoes over the needle and we could use them awhile longer. I'm not sure that sharpened them or just got rid of the "rust" from our sweat when using them. Our house was built in 1918 by my grandfather and the thresholds covered the gap where the floor boards met in doorways. We put the needles on the part where the varnish was worn away, otherwise it didn't "work."

I love that story, Noble! Thanks!

I learned about running a pin thru your hair when I was pinning on diapers, the oil makes them glide better, I would think that candle wax would make them drag.

The needle slides thru the material just fine...once I get it to go thru the material! Its the point that needs sharpening!