Beading Basics – Beading Needles

Beading needles are something that everyone who does beadweaving uses with their projects.  The humble beading needle has gone from just one more supply item to something more high-tech.

Let’s take a look at beading needles, and then also see a video on this supply item that beadweaving wouldn’t be the same without!

Beading Needle Basics

What is a beading needle, anyway, and why is it different from any other needle you may have on hand?

A beading needle is thin, and it has a larger eye in comparison to its thickness, than does a regular sewing needle.  While you can use a sewing needle for some projects with larger seed beads, a beading needle is very much a necessity for smaller seed beads and many gemstone beads – especially cultured pearls.

What about lengths?  They do come in several lengths, with the longer being designated as “longs” and the shorter as (you guessed it) “shorts”.  Which should you use?  It’s mostly a preference — whichever is most comfortable for you.

Beading Needle Sizes

The needles come in sizes 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15.  (There may be a 14 out there somewhere, but I haven’t come across one.)  Like wire, the bigger the number, the thinner the needle.

The most common two sizes are 10 and 12.  If you can find an 11, though, snag it — it’s thin enough for most seed beads, but has a larger eye that is easier to thread.

I do have some 13s and even a 15, but I rarely use them.  Actually, come to think of it, I have never used the size 15!  I can’t see the eye, much less thread it, LOL.  😉

Basics of Beading Needles Video

If you want to learn a little more about the humble beading needle, and see why it’s gone more high-tech, click the video to watch and see the different kinds of needles that are out there.

Enjoy!!!