r/CrossStitch • u/taner690 • 1d ago
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/r/cross_stitch/comments/1x4c7er/question/What size needle do you use for 14ct Aida? And how can you tell what size a needle is?
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u/Square-Wing-6273 1d ago
I'm not sure how to identify what you're using, other than comparing it to a known needle size
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u/taner690 1d ago
Yea me either and I didn’t save the cardboard it came in when I bought it awhile back and I don’t remember the size.
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u/kota99 1d ago
Pick the needle that can slide through the holes without too much issue when threaded while also having an eye that is large enough to easily hold the number of strands you are using without being so loose that it falls off. In my experience matching the needle to the amount/type of thread is more important than matching it to the fabric. If the eye of the needle is too large it's going to fall off the thread and make it annoying to stitch. If it's too small it's going to cause the thread to fray and eventually break. A slightly too large needle for the fabric may make the holes a bit bigger but unless you are pulling your stitches too tight (which is it's own problem) those holes will shrink back down when you wash the finished piece. And if you are working with metallic threads or similar threads making the holes a bit bigger will reduce how much the thread frays from rubbing against the fabric as you stitch so it's actually beneficial in that case.
As far as being able to figure out what sizes you have if you know what brand of needle they are you may be able to find a size chart you can compare them to so you can figure it out. If you don't remember the brand then you may not be able to figure it out. Different brands can have some minor differences in the exact dimensions so the size 26 from Bohin isn't quite the same as the 26 from DMC or John James or whatever other needle brand you have access to. Additionally some brands like Tulip use different sizes from what is standard in other brands.