Today we will talk about Milliner needles. Why is it important to use Milliner needles, instead of other types. Notice in the picture below, the eye is the same size as the shank – no buldge. This is necessary for ease of slipping the bullion wraps and cast-on loops off the needle. Also, notice the long shank. This makes it easier to wrap or loop the cast-ons; and to place more wraps and cast-ons than you could on a short needle.
Now, lets discuss size. The REALLY large needle is a #15 Milliner. #15 is used for Nova and Boucle thread. #15 is a new size available to us in the Milliner needles. Before we had to use Yarn Darners, which have the bulging eye – very hard to pull those wraps and cast-ons off the needle. I enjoy using Nova and especially Boucle thread, with this new large size needle. Also, the large needle leaves a perfect size hole in the fabric for the Boucle to slip through with out distroying the knubbies on the thread.
The three small needles; l to r are #1, #5 & #7. Size 1 is used for Lola and Cire; #5 for Iris and Frost; size 3 is for Glory. If the needle is to small for the thread to easily slip through the eye, it will wear on thread, causing it to fray. If the needle is to large, you will not have nice Cast-ons and smoothing the Bullions will be more difficult.
There are many brands of Milliner needles. I found some of the more common brands have a smaller eye, making it hard to thread and wearing on the thread. Some of the brands I would recommend are: John James, Richard Hemmings and Piecemaker. There is a very nice Milliner needle made in France, I am trying to get my hands on some of those for you – more about that one in the future. I have some inexpensive Milliner needles in bulk, size #1, 5 & 7, that are of good qualitity. Contact me to inquire about those. www.ThreadsinBloom.com
If you have any further questions about needles for Brazilian Embroidery, or comments; if you would like a set ( 1 each ) of the bulk needles I have, send me a comment.
Have a great day – talk to you soon
Sharon ~ Threads in Bloom
Threadsinbloom's Blog 
Posted by Bev Ross on December 1, 2009 at 3:06 am
Read about your site on the needlenthread blog. You posted a very interesting article on your blog about needles – now I understand ! the difference
Bev R – joyadvtr
Posted by threadsinbloom on December 1, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Thank you for your note. It is nice to hear the information on my blog
was helpful
Sharon