Where are the needles?
 

I need some new quilting needles and frequently shop at WalMart so have looked there. I have been to two different WalMarts and their hand sewing needle displays are absolutely empty! There are machine needles, usual display of thread and buttons but no needles at either store. Does anyone know why? The racks and prices are still there but not the merchandise.

Probably coming from China and are temperarly out of stock. Have you tried Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Target, and even Walgreens carries a very limited supply of needles.

The best needles I have ever used to hand sew are hiroshima needles by Tulip. Lots of different types and sizes. Amazon has them and sometimes I find them in a quilt shop.

Wouldn't be my first choice but the larger chain supermarkets often have a few notions. When you need a needle and you are getting groceries it is worth checking out!

I see packages of needles at Dollar General. I've never used them so don't know how sharp but if I needed a needle I'd buy a package.

It just seems odd that every hook is absolutely empty. It's not just one; it's every one of them. How can there even be a recall on sewing needles? Thought has crossed my mind that a number of years ago, I needed a skein of embroidery floss. That display was in the back of the store at JoAnn's and I found that display empty. The manager told me there was some kind of a "challenge" happening among "kids" to go into a store and empty a display. I almost wonder if that's where all the needles might have gone, too??? But certainly strange to find not one needle on the racks at 2 WalMarts. I did end up at Ben Franklin where they had a good offering. The old pkg of betweens from J.P. Coats that is dwindling had their tag on it priced at $.85. The new pkg from John James is $3.69! Now that's inflation!!!

All needles are not the same quality. I am buying a few extra packages of my favorite because of importing problems from Japan. I remember once my grandmother told me her grandmother told her that needles use to be shared between families. That's how hard it was to buy needles.

I stockpile things like this. The local sewing warehouse sells things like this reasonably.

There may be a shortage due to shipping or tariffs. Or maybe WM just hasn't adjusted stocking since Joanns closed. I would guess that would be where lots of people would be looking for them now.

I agree that Tulip needles are fantastic. I also like Primitive Gatherings binding needles. I'm also picky about pins. I want strong, but not thick, sharp, no burrs, and no rusting. If I am in a LQS, I get a pack. Or if I am placing an online order, and need to spend a little more to get free shipping, that is one of the things I will look for.

Absolutely true that not all needles are equal, not by a long shot! Better quality needles glide through fabric and last a lot longer.

I use a company called Wawak (wawak.com) for many of my sewing supplies. I get thread, needles, pins and many products I use for the alterations I do for a formal dress shop. But they have all kinds and sizes of both needles and threads.