Why are quilters and sewers worldwide asking for Piecemakers needles? Let us share how they came about and why we think they are the best.
Like most shop owners around the country, we listen to our customers. Complaint after complaint came in about the poor quality needles available. "Can't you find a better brand?", they'd say. We switched from brand to brand. Some were better than others, but none completely satisfactory. Eyes would break, points were dull, needles were hard to thread -- the list went on.
So, in our search for a better needle, a good friend of ours (in the needle manufacturing business himself) listened to our woes. He said, "If you can't find a needle to suit you, the only answer is to have your own made to meet your specifications." That sounded impossible, but we went to work with him helping us. He took our "list of wants" and had samples made for us in Japan. These needles would be made to the highest standards.
Our friend showed us the tests run by the manufacturer for needle strength, as well as magnified pictures of eyes made to check for rough edges. We did comparison tests in our store, and our students used them and examined them for size, strength and ease of stitching. All reports were "thumbs up"!
Here's part of our "want list" that came true:
- Clean Eyes - They won't fray the thread.
- Sharp - They go through fabric like a hot knife slides through butter.
- Sturdy and Strong - It takes a lot to break them.
- Easy-to-Thread - We don't claim everyone can thread the smallest needle, but they surely are the easiest we have found to thread.
We've been selling Piecemakers Fine Hand Sewing Needles to individuals and stores since 1986. Following is an email (sent September 3, 2013) from Lawrence Wilbur, a stitcher and designer who has been featured in several needle arts magazines:
"To the makers of Piecemakers needles... Being a 90 year old male. who has stitched for over 25 years, and stitched BASS WEJUNS for 45 years, sewing over 300,000 pairs of Bass Weejuns - I know needles, Having finally tried the Piecemakers tapestry needles, size 28, I found them to be the ultimate needle for X-stitch craft. The point is perfect in being not too pointed as to pierce the fabric and not too blunt as to be hard to find a hole, especially in the higher count fabric - 30, 32, and 40 Ct. silk gauze, as in petit point. As a serious stitcher I thread all my needles before starting, therefore I use a lot. Piecemakers are the only needles I use. I have shared this knowledge with many other serious stitchers. I tried the gold, platinum, etc; nothing compares . I love the PIECEMAKERS NEEDLES."
