Tapestry Needle – What it is and How to Use It
A tapestry needle is a blunt tipped sewing needle used on larger woven fabrics such as knit and crochet, plastic canvas, and even-weave materials such as canvas. The rounded tip does not damage the fabric and keeps the grid formed by the woven threads in place, making your stitches more even. The eye of a tapestry needle is large enough to hold multiple strands of embroidery floss or yarn, giving the opportunity for thicker and fuller stitches. Thicker strands of thread have a tendency to rub against the fabric as it is being stitched, which could cause them to weaken or break. Tapestry needles are thicker at the top, which prevents the strand from rubbing and wearing.
Tapestry Needle Types and Sizes
Use the fabric count of the fabric that you are using as a guide when choosing sizes.
- Tapestry needle sizes get larger as their number gets smaller as it depends on the weave of the fabric. The smaller the fabric count, the larger the weave.
- A size 22 or 24 tapestry needle is typically used for 11 count Aida Cloth
- A size 28 tapestry needle (the smallest) can be used on 36 count fabric or 18 count Aida Cloth.
- Bent tip needles are best for knit and crochet projects and allow you to grab stitches one at a time, without having to pull on them to lift the needle. This keeps your work tight and allows you to easily weave in ends or stitch swatches together.
- Curved needles help to keep the distance between stitches even every time they are used, simply rock it back through without having to turn your work over.
- Curved needles also work well with perforated paper and plastic canvas. You can easily pull the needle through the next hole in the grid without having to turn the work over, so you can see and create the design as you go.
Uses for Tapestry Needles
- A tapestry needle is ideal for cross stitchers using Aida cloth. Aida cloth does not need to be pierced when stitching through as the weave is open enough to fit the floss through on its own. They keep the work on an even grid so that lines are straight and the stitches are even
- Tapestry Needles are also helpful with plastic canvas crafts because there is no need for piercing or even brushing aside, so a sharp tip is not needed at all.
- They can be used with kids' crafts that involve sewing with yarn or embroidery floss into paper or plastic canvas because the blunt edge will not hurt a child. Punch holes into paper or fabric with a hole punch and give your child yarn and a tapestry needle to teach them to sew.
- Knitters and Crocheters also use them to help create tight stitches when weaving in ends. They can also be used when sewing pieces knitted or crocheted material together without the risk of the yarn snagging.
Projects Using Tapestry Needles
Brown Paper Bunny
Fork Pom-Pom Garland
Embroidered Gift Wrap
Upcycled Monogrammed Hand Warmers
Check out various craft projects using tapestry needles at our Think Crafts Blog.
Save and Share