How to clean your japanese needles

[christine earnshaw]

Hi

 

 Can any one tellme how I should clean my Japanese needles please,I cant find anything on this in any of my books.

[Kay Stanis]

I keep small squares, 1x1 or slightly larger, of fine sandpaper in my stitching supplies (also one of the things I give to new students.) You gently rub the needle between the folded sandpaper THEN insert it several times in the end fabric to clean any residue--then it's back to stitching (until that needle starts to squeak again.)

[Jane]

Hi Christine,  check out this discussion, there are some good tips here.

jane

 

 

[Jane]

On the comment below from Christine, this is probably what we call emery cloth in the UK.  It does come in  very very fine gradients.  The higher the number the finer the grain.

 

jane

Christine said:

My teacher has given me a small square of very fine sandpaper which she gets at an auto supply store.  It is black in color, and finer than any sand paper I've seen at the hardware store.  I suspect it is used in auto painting?  In any case, a small 2" square will probably last me a lifetime.  I use it on my tekobari also.

[Carmelina López Andrade]

How are the Japanese embroidery needles? Might show a photo? Thanks.

[Carol-Anne]

Hello Carmelina

 

Japanese needles are handmade.  They have a rounder eye than most needles that allows the silk to spread out.  Because they are hand made their are no burrs on the eye to snag the silk and the points are very sharp.  They are rather more expensive than mass produced needles so we take great care of them.  We store them in a needle felt that prevents them from rusting and getting lost.

 

There is a picture of my Japanese needles stored in their needle felt here.

 

[Carmelina López Andrade]

Thanks for the reply, Carol-Anne.

How interesting. Do you think these needles are absolutely essential to start this type of embroidery?

[Carol-Anne]

Hi Carmelina

 

Absolutely.  Japanese embroidery uses flat silt and it will snag on ANYTHING!  The eyes of these needles are totaly smooth.  In addition the eyes of the needles are more rounded than other needles.  This allows the flat silk to spread out.  I've never seen another needle quite like it.  The needles are a bit expensive but you only need a few to get started and they last a long time if you take good care of them.

 

Are you thinking of learning Japanese embroidery?

 

[Carmelina López Andrade]

I'd like it, Carol-Anne. I want to gather the materials necessary for this and it may take me some time yet. I saw some thread samples in JEC page, but I do not know how much yarn containing. Do you ever purchased? I'm in Mexico and is difficult to obtain specialized materials. But it is a beautiful thing to learn and I'm going to try. Meanwhile I'm embroidering Hardanger and doing tatting lace. 

[0hnl7ir6h6ny7]

 I think that Kay Stanis gives you a very good explanation of what best to do.

I use Diamond Flex 600 made by Diamond Grit Sand Papers Limited.