Hand Quilters, which needles do you prefer to use???
 

Which quilting needle do you find to be the most useful?? I bent a needle last evening and got out a new one from the Dritz pack, it bent before I got an inch sewn, got another one and it broke off in the same amount of time. Changed to my John James pack and did it all over again!!! After 4 bent needles and 2 broken ones I called it quits and went to bed. I was ready to throw them all away. This morning I got out my needle tube and used one of them. Worked great, no problems at all. The only problem is, I don't remember what brand of needles I put in that tube last summer???

I use Jeana Kimball"s Foxglove Cottage. size 9 sharp. I do lap quilting with no frame. I even do all my hand sewing with these needles. When you find one you like it is like gold. I wish you luck. Vi

I like John James, and they usually don't bend or break on me. How tight is your quilt sandwich?

Janet

I like betweens for hand quilting, sharps for other hand stitching such as the binding. Not too particular about the brand.

John James, Piecemakers and Colonial have been pretty reliable for me. The only really bad ones I ever ran into were Dritz made in China. I use betweens - usually size 9, sometimes 10 if I am feeling patient enough to put up with the bending.
The smaller needles certainly help make smaller stitches, but I have never been able to use anything smaller than a 10.
Lefty

I use Richard Hemming brand needles; they're English. I also adore needles by Clover; in sewing supplies, the Japanese really know how to do it right!

Jan in VA

I usually use John James, and Bohin. I like them both and a size 8 or 9. I am not as proficient at hq as I would like to be, but will be quilting a lap for my dh, so will be getting lots of practise.

This is my choice also.

Roxanne needles, size 10, 11, or 12, hands down. They are the best IMHO

It is not real tight, when I used my other needles it went just fine. I thought they were John James but am not sure.