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Decisions, Decisions, & More Decisions!

Choosing the Right Tapestry Needle, Part II.
March 25, 2024

Last week, we talked about styles of tapestry needles, including their material and shape. This week, we're going to cover tapestry needle sizing for needlepoint and cross stitch. Unlike tapestry (yarn, wool) needles used for crocheting and knitting, needles used for cross stitch and needlepoint rely on a numbering system that corresponds to the canvas or fabric you're using. This makes it a wee bit more complicated, but we've got tips to help simplify your decision.

 

First, needles come in a range of sizes, from size 13 to 28. Needle sizing can be confusing because the larger the number, the smaller the needle. This means a #16 needle is larger than a #20. The same relationship goes for canvas mesh and cross stitch fabric: the smaller the number, the larger the holes in the mesh. Both needles and mesh numbers work this way because they correspond to the number of stitches per inch. It makes sense that 16 count (ct) mesh has bigger holes than 18 ct because there are more holes per inch in 18 ct!

 

The most important thing about choosing a needle is to make sure it passes easily through the hole in your canvas or mesh. If the needle is too large, it will distort the canvas. If it is too small, it can damage your thread. Below is a guide for choosing your needle based on the mesh or fabric (Aida) size.

 Needle Sizing for Needlepoint and Cross Stitch

If Mesh/Count is:

OR if Aida Count is:

Then Needle Size is:

3-5

 

13

7-8

 

14-16

10

6

18

12-14

8

20

16-20

11

22

22-24

14-16

24-26

26-28

16-18

26-28

Source: The Needlepoint Book: New, Revised, and Updated Third Edition; Gathered.How

Caryn and the Yarnivore Crew

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