Needles

It's best to have a good supply of needles on hand. If you are going to hand piece, purchase the thinnest ones possible. The best needles for hand piecing are what is known as “sharps”. The higher the number of the needle, the thinner it will be. I would recommend a #10 sharp at least for hand piecing.

My personal favorite for hand appliqué is a #12 "straw" needle (also known as a milliner's needle), because it is longer and glides through the fabric easily.

For hand quilting, the needle you will want to use is known as a "between" or quilting needle. You can start out with a #8 or 9, and gradually work your way up to a smaller needle. Betweens are very short needles – because of their small size it takes some practice to get used to them, but it is worth the effort to ensure small and even stitches. You might want to consider using a thimble with these needles... otherwise your finger will quickly get sore.

Regardless of whether you are going to hand or machine piece and quilt, it is best to change your needles often for easy and smooth sewing. I keep an empty film canister on hand to discard used needles safely.