Ask the Experts Beading Q&A

What needle would you recommend for a loom project that is about 5 inches (94 columns) wide and uses 11/0 Delica seed beads?  I'm having to thread back through just a few columns at a time with my standard #12 needle.

For a loom project using 11/0 Delicas,  your needle choice makes a big difference, especially when threading back through narrow columns. We recommend Tulip #10 or #11 needles for this purpose.

Beading needle sizes go down as the size number increases, like we see in wire gauge. Choose a needle that is similar or higher in number to the beads you are planning to work with. A standard #10 needle fits most projects using #6 to #11 seed beads. A #11 needle, which is my choice for most #11 and #15 projects, is a bit narrower, so it will go through beads with more passes of thread than a #10 will. If you are doing a project looming size #11 seed beads and plan to add a picot edge, for instance, in #15 beads I would definitely go with a size 11 needle.

- Patti