Spiral Eye Needles - has any one tried these
 

Heard about this on the Quilt Show and was curious if any one has tried these. I ordered some just to see but they have not yet arrived.

http://www.spiraleyeneedles.com/

I like them better than the self threading needles for tucking in thread ends after quilting, but they are too thick for me to use for regular sewing.

I ordered several sizes and styles and was terribly disappointed with them.
The shank is too thick.
The points are not sharp enough.
The needle didn't always stay threaded.
The spiral needles I bought were made by a gal who is or was on this board; they are made stateside.

Jan in VA

I too have tried the spiral eye needles. I thought it was a great idea, but I experienced a lot of the same problems as SuperJan. They were too thick, didn't glide through the fabric very easily, and came unthreaded often.

Good information!!!

Thanks for all this wonderful info. I quilt with a small needle between s 8 or 10. From your comments I think I would find them like pokers. I have a small hook for threading ends in if I do it. I have tried those quick thread needles I spent most of my time threading. Can they make between size needles with this spiral, personally I think not because the needle is too thin.

I bought two of those spiral needles from Hobby Lobby - paid $10!

I also bought some of the Fons and Porters needles from Joann's and got several in a package for a fraction of what I paid for the spiral needles. I like the Fons and Porters needles better. They are a lot thinner. I only use them for hiding threads - not for regular sewing. For regular sewing, I use the purple glover needle threader - works great.

I will be sure and check out the ones sold at Joanns from Fons and Porter the next time I am in there. I've never heard of this kind of needle before.

Not Quilting related, but yes I did buy a package of them. My neighbor lady is 88 and almost blind with Macular Degeneration but she is also very active and can run circles around me. I get tired just watching her. She takes care of my dachshunds during the day while I work (her choice) and liked to fix their toys when they would gut them. Her sight became so bad she could no longer sew the toys or do any mending of her own, which was upsetting to her because it was one more bit of independence she lost. I saw these needles advertised and thought they might work for her.

I told her I bought her some new needles and asked her to get some thread. We sat down and I showed her how to thread them. You would have thought I gave the woman the world she was so happy. She couldn't believe they made such a thing. I have never seen a person's face light up like hers did.
They may not be perfect for us, but for someone visually impaired they can make a huge difference. She sews the dogs toys in the afternoon while she watches TV (she can see far, not close) sure, she misses some holes, but who cares.

I think they are great but only the ones made in USA. Yes, they are larger but great for burying thread ends. Have had no problems with them and add them to kits for machine quilting. $$ is worth it in time saved to thread needles. They are available in several sizes so the smaller is the most useful.

I just purchased one, just arrived a couple of days ago, and haven't tried it yet. I bought it for burying threads when I longarm quilt. I've been using the other style of self-threading needles, with a notch in the top of the needle, and I've found that the thread sometimes shreds with those, so I'm hoping the spiral eye needle will work better.

i bought some, too. the lady who makes them lives a short drive down the highway from here. i agree with the other posters that they are too thick and the points are not sharp. i do use them for burying threads, though. i find them better than the ones that have the opening on the end only.

how very sweet that you did this for her, MM.

same here.

I also tried these. I love them for burying threads in the quilt. I don't love them for regular sewing. I tried them for a binding. I found that they would occasionally catch on the threads of the fabric and pull them. While it didn't happen with every stitch, it bothered me enough to go back to a regular needle. I think the issue may have been the angle at which I was using the needle.

For pulling threads into the quilt for burying they were fine with an occasional pull on the batting. But given how many threads I had to bury, it sure saved me a lot of time and effort.

I too use them only for buring threads. As stated they are too thick and not sharp enought for normal sewing.

These needles look interesting to me, and I may order some to see how they do. I also like that they are made in the USA.

I ordered them for burying threads. Haven't tried them yet, but expect to soon as I'm about at that stage on the quilt I'm binding right now.

Cheers, K

I love them but only use for burying threads after quilting on my LA. I have some of the Fons & Porters ones but they come unthreaded so easy so I really have liked this one. Everyone has their own thing I guess! Hopefully you will like them. Let us know what you think:-)

I got my needles and they are definetely thick and blunt! I will probably only use them for hiding thread....which is what I saw them being used for in the first place. A tool for everything...lol. Thanks for all the information from every one.