With the cooler weather, I’ve been spending some amount of time each day going through boxes upstairs. When I open some of the boxes, I want to kick myself for having so much junk but when I open other boxes, I am so happy with what I find. This morning I unpacked a box of sewing treasures and had to laugh.
Needles! Lots of hand applique needles, lots of what I guess are hand quilting needles . . sharps, betweens . . don’t have a clue. There are Milliners and a ton of embroidery needles. One thing I can say for myself . . if I think I need one of something, I must think having 100+ would be even better. I guess my road to “you know where” might be paved with needles! I’m sure I was planning to hand quilt and hand applique when I bought all these.
Singer MR3.5 needles are the needles I love for my longarm and they’ve quit making them. I knew I had a few packs of them but was happy to find a box with 10 packs of 10 needles.
But then I found these. The package says Singer and all the specs are the same and there are 10 packs of 10 of those so that’s 200 longarm needles. Considering that as little as I quilt these days, I change my needle about once a year, I’m set for 200 years! When these needles are all used up, I’ll have to figure out which needles to use but somehow, I don’t think I’ll ever run out of longarm needles.
A lifetime of sewing machine needles. Twin needles. Wing needles . . I have done a variety of sewing through the years. Mostly I use the Schmetz Universal 70/10 needles and unless I have a run of bad luck breaking needles, I don’t think I’ll ever need to buy sewing machine needles again.
For every 10 boxes of junk and “why did we save that” that I unpack, I find one good, worthwhile box.
For the first time in most of my adult life, I feel like there’s not another move in our future so it’s time to get all these boxes unpacked.
Theresa says
Not another move in the near future – I envy you! It was very hard to find the motivation to unpack this move since I knew we’d be doing it again in just under a year but we’ve got to check it all so we can claim any damages. Eight moves in the last 10 years – the joys of our military life!
Becky I. says
Thank you for being a military wife. I appreciate your sacrifice!
Becky I. says
OH NO!! I didn’t realize that had quit making those MR needles. I waas just thinking of ordering some 4.0’s. Now I’m in a pickle……
Vicki W says
Like you and Becky, I like my Singer needles best but I don’t stock up like you! I am using GrozBeckert now. I do not like them as much but they work!
Karen Langseth says
You Judy, since you have long arm needles to last 200 years, and snce you will probably only livc to the ripe old age of 110, like maybe you would want to sell those needles in the yellow box to some poor deserving soul like me!!! I opened my last pack of 10 this week, Please please please!!!
Judy D in WA says
I hoard needles. There I’ve admitted it. Whenever they are on sale, I buy several packs. I will never, ever run out of needles again.. I have lots for the long arm but not like you. 🙂
Great find!
Jocelyn says
Okay, I have to ask the question. You said you only change your needle once a year. I hardly ever change my needles, but I keep reading everywhere that you need to change your needle for every ___ hours of sewing!! Why is that?? And do you think it is better for the quilting or the machine (or the manufacturer)?
Linda in NE says
All those needles are like Bonnie H.’s stash….money in the bank. Prices only go up. I wish I had some more MR 4.0’s. I’ll have to get the Groz-Beckerts next time I order and I hope they will agree with my machine.
Donna says
If times ever get hard for you and Vince you could open a notions store…uh probably a fabric store too. (lol) I can bet you got them cheaper than you could buy them now.
Alma says
I had to find a new person in my area to do my quilts on a long arm machine this past summer. This person made a big deal out of the fact that she uses a new needle on every quilt and charges extra for the needle and bobbin. Now I see that you do all these beautiful quilts and change your needle once a year! I think I was ripped off!!
VickiT says
Are you SURE your shop-a-holic husband who buys charcoal and other things that will last for five years or so didn’t buy you needles at some point Judy? LOL
You sure do have a good supply of them, that’s for sure.
Nancy Angerer says
Glad you are finally in a place where you will stay. We are 70 and will be moving to be close to our oldest daughter as soon as this house sells. We will be downsizing from 3500 sq ft to between 2000 and 2500 sq feet after living here 32 years during which time we have filled every nook and cranny.. I laughed when I read about all your needles. When my mother-in-law died, I cleaned out all the boxes of sewing stuff she had and now have a drawer full of needles for hand sewing. I think a bunch of them will finally make it to the Salvation Army:)
Lyn says
Now I have never seen it written down anywhere, but I am sure all quilters are hoards. I too have more needles and other notions than I will ever use!!
Susan says
I love your needle supply! I’m completely jealous.
pdudgeon says
i agree that you did a smart thing when you stocked up on needles. Since quilting is a big part of your life, it only makes sense to ensure that you have what it takes to ‘keep on keepin’ on”!
pdudgeon says
p.s. forgot to mention it, but if i recall rightly, don’t yu have a pegboard section in your new quilting studio ? if so, do you still have room to hang up all those newly discovered needles?
Becky says
Reading this post makes me curious to know what type needle and size you prefer to use on your sewing machine for piecing? Is it the Universal 10’s that you posted the picture showing them?
Doe in Mi says
You totally cracked me up with this post. LOL
CindyM says
I buy those 100 count boxes of sewing machine needles. I can’t imagine not having a new sharp needle when I need it.