Hello. My art project keeps throwing new ideas at me, it's not as straight forward as I first thought when the seed was planted. I now have to turn it into a fully grown cottage garden which will need lots of nurturing to get it into it's finished state.
I need to sew around corners so I am using a curved needle, but it's not easy. With a normal needle I have to go up and down, pulling it through to the underneath and poking it back up again. I thought this curved needle would make the job easy so I can do the work from the top, but where should I grip it?
Maybe I could buy a smaller curved needle, I might look when I am next in town. Do they make smaller ones, are they easier to handle? In the meantime I shall carry on with this one. I can see this taking a long time.
Thank you for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip
this is very interesting I love to see your art projects!!
ReplyDeleteBlimy that needle looks scary lol can't wait to see the finished project.
ReplyDeleteYou hold it near the end between your thumb and index finger, using your idle finger to guide it. Yes, they do make smaller needles. It takes practice but you'll get it.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say you hold it near the eye.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a curved needle before. What a clever idea, even if tricky to use.
ReplyDeleteYes you can get smaller curved needles,, once you get going they are not difficult to use.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and look forward to seeing it progress.
Hazel c uk
They do make smaller curved needles but they can be hard to find. I have a special package from the British Patchwork Quilt Show and the curved needle is 3/4 of an inch long. More to look at than to use. I am really not sure they are worth the effort to use. Ana USA
ReplyDeleteDanneke here,
ReplyDeleteIlona that curved needle is for Leather work, we used them to mend leather straps etc in the farm stables, also larger ones like that were used to sew sacking around bales etc.
I didn't even know they existed. Well you learn something new every day!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love curved needles. I was using one yesterday on a craft project. I agree with what other people have said about taking time to get use to them and that you can get smaller ones but they are hard to find.
ReplyDeleteI have never used on, but have seen others, and seen pictures of use.
ReplyDeletewhat I have seen is it gripped with pliers or some sort of gripper/holder, near the end.
I have one of those needles and it came in a pack of three specialised needles for repairing things. I bought them when I was in my teens, so they are about 50 years old. I must say I've never used any of them. For the needle like yours it says on the packaging (yes I still have it) that it is a "Mattress Needle for repairs to upholstered chairs and settees". The other two are a thicker needle which flattens out like a scoop which is a "Yarn Needle for carpet and heavy fabric repairs" and the third needle is just an ordinary industrial type needle for "Sack Needle for repairs to hessian and coconut matting". I must say it looks rather awkward to use going by the picture above, so good
ReplyDeleteluck with it, although knowing you, you'll get the hang of it or find an alternative.
Joan (Wales)
You can get smaller curved needles - I used to used them a lot for darning ballet pointe shoes but they are tricky to get the hang of. If you can get used to a thimble then it's easier, although I always ended up stabbing myself and in the end I went back to the straight ones! I was always able to find them in haberdashers, they used to come in a packet of one large and two smaller. If you've got a local dancewear shop then you might even be able to find them in there.
ReplyDeleteOoh no idea! What a great looking project though. Can't wait to see it finished if it doesn't 'give you the needle' before you finish 😀
ReplyDelete