Needles Guide

Getting right to the point

All needles are shown at actual size
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About this Needle Guide

At John James Needles, we have history dating back to
the very start of needle manufacture in the UK and we
have a needle for every needlecraft discipline.
The name of John James Needles is still recognised by needle crafters
around the globe and is renowned for quality and reliability.

In this guide all needles are shown at actual size giving you a useful
resource for needle selection and identification. Each needle type also
gives a brief summary on common use and purpose.

Also to help, toward the back of the guide there are tables which give
the lengths and diameters of all available needles.

On our website at www.jjneedles.com we sell needles in blister

packs that you would traditionally see in a local high street retailer,
we also sell in envelopes of 25 needles and in bulk handings of 1,000
needles.

In this guide product codes are listed for our blister pack format. If
you are viewing this guide online clicking on these codes will take you
directly to the relevant page of our website or a little search of our
website will quickly let you find the needles you need in the format
you want.

Finally, to help with your first purchase, enter the

following discount code at checkout to get 25% off -
up to a maximum total discount of £20:
Code: NeedlesGuide25

If you find you need further advice or help you can

contact us at [email protected] or by
calling +44 (0)1527 830941

jjneedles.com | [email protected] | +44 (0) 1527 830941

 Finest Quality Hand Sewing Needles

Sharps Quilting / Betweens

These are general purpose sewing needles used by dressmakers Specifically designed for quilters, the short length of these needles
around the world. Size 16, 17 and 18 are known as Carpet Sharps and, allows you to stitch far quicker than when using an ordinary sewing
as their name suggests, are most commonly used in the design and needle.
manufacture of carpets and rugs.

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 18 17 16 Detail 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Detail

JJ110 JJ120
All needles shown at actual size All needles shown at actual size

Tapestry / Cross Stitch Milliners’ / Straws

These large eye needles allow the user to thread tapestry wool or six- Although traditionally used in the Millinery trade, these needles are
stranded cotton easily. The blunt tapestry point enables the needle to now more commonly used for pleating, fancy decorative stitching or
pass through canvas without tearing or splitting its fibres. even some types of beadwork. They are similar to an ordinary Sharps
needle but longer.

18 15
28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 13 Detail 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 1 1/0 4/0 Detail

JJ198 JJ150
All needles shown at actual size All needles shown at actual size

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 Finest Quality Hand Sewing Needles

Leather / Glovers Chenille

These needles have unusual triangulated (cutting) points to enable them Chenille needles are identical to Tapestry/Cross Stitch needles in length
to pass through tough materials without causing unnecessary abrasion. and diameter but the Chenille point is sharp, enabling the needle to
While, as their name suggests, they were originally intended for use when pass through the coarsest of fabrics.
leather working, they are also ideal when working with other media such as
suede and soft plastics.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Detail 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 13 Detail

JJ180 JJ188
All needles shown at actual size All needles shown at actual size

Darners Long Darners

Long and sharp with elongated eyes, as their name suggests, these Another form of darning needle, the extra length and larger eyes of the
needles are used for darning or mending work. Sizes 14 to 18 are Long Darners make them even more suitable for mending with wool or
commonly known as Yarn or Wool Darners. other thick and coarse threads.

17 16 15 14 17 15
9 7 5 3 1 18 2/0 3/0 4/0 5/0 Detail 9 7 5 3 1 2/0 4/0 Detail

JJ145 JJ165
All needles shown at actual size All needles shown at actual size

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Embroidery / Crewel Easy Threading / Calyx Eye

Embroidery needles have a longer eye than a standard Sharps needle, Perfect for those who find it difficult to thread regular needles, these
making them more suitable for threading stranded cotton. Apart from this, are standard sewing needles with a cut made in the top of the eye to
their length, diameter and point profile is akin to that of a Sharps needle. allow thread to pass through it from above, as illustrated.

12 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Detail 8 6 4 Detail

JJ135 JJ144
All needles shown at actual size All needles shown at actual size

Beading - JJ105 Short Beading / Bead Embroidery - JJ107

Beading needles are made from the finest steel wire, enabling their These are specially created Beading needles whose diameters match
use with beads, sequins and pearls. Each size of John James’ Beading those of the regular Beading needles, yet in very short lengths. They
needles is made from a different diameter of wire which is particularly are ideal for embellishing garments with both beads or sequins and
unusual. sections of hand embroidery. Available in Sharp point or Ball point.

Needle Lengths & Diameters

Sharps - JJ110 Carpet Sharps - L4302

Size Length Diameter Diameter Size Length Diameter Diameter
mm mm Thousandths of an Inch mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

1 48.5 1.02 0.040 16 54.5 1.63 0.064

2 44 0.86 0.034 17 52 1.42 0.056
3 44 0.86 0.034 18 50 1.09 0.043
4 40 0.76 0.030
5 40 0.76 0.030
6 37 0.69 0.027
7 37 0.69 0.027
8 34 0.61 0.024
9 34 0.61 0.024
10 32.5 0.53 0.021
11 31 0.46 0.018
12 29.5 0.41 0.016

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Needle Lengths & Diameters

Ball Point Sharps - BN0310C Gloves/Leather - JJ180

Size Length Diameter Diameter Size Length Diameter Diameter
mm mm Thousandths of an Inch mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

1 48.5 1.02 0.040 1 48.5 1.02 0.040

2 44 0.86 0.034 2 44 0.86 0.034
3 44 0.86 0.034 3 44 0.86 0.034
4 40 0.76 0.030 5 40 0.76 0.030
5 40 0.76 0.030 6 37 0.69 0.027
6 37 0.69 0.027 7 37 0.69 0.027
7 37 0.69 0.027 8 34 0.61 0.024
8 34 0.61 0.024 9 34 0.61 0.024
9 34 0.61 0.024 10 32.5 0.53 0.021
10 32.5 0.53 0.021
11 31 0.46 0.018
Easy Threading/Calyx Eye - JJ144
12 29.5 0.41 0.016
Size Length Diameter Diameter
mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

Quilting/Betweens - JJ120 4 40 0.76 0.030

Size Length Diameter Diameter 6 37 0.76 0.030

mm mm Thousandths of an Inch 8 34 0.76 0.030
1 41 1.02 0.040
2 39 0.86 0.034
Embroidery/Crewel - JJ135
3 39 0.86 0.034
Size Length Diameter Diameter
4 35 0.76 0.030 mm mm Thousandths of an Inch
5 35 0.76 0.030
1 48.5 1.02 0.040
6 31.5 0.69 0.027
2 48.5 1.02 0.040
7 31.5 0.69 0.027
3 45 0.86 0.034
8 28.5 0.61 0.024
4 45 0.86 0.034
9 28.5 0.61 0.024
5 41.5 0.76 0.030
10 25.5 0.53 0.021
6 38.5 0.69 0.027
11 22.5 0.53 0.021
7 38.5 0.69 0.027
12 22.5 0.41 0.016
8 34 0.61 0.024
9 34 0.61 0.024
Big Eye Quilting - JJ125 10 32.5 0.53 0.021

Size Length Diameter Diameter 12 29.5 0.41 0.016

mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

10 25.5 0.53 0.021

11 22.5 0.53 0.021
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Needle Lengths & Diameters

Straws/Milliners - JJ150 Tapestry/Cross Stitch - JJ198

Size Length Diameter Diameter Size Length Diameter Diameter
mm mm Thousandths of an Inch mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

1 59 1.02 0.040 13 69 2.34 0.092

3 56 0.86 0.034 14 58 2.03 0.080
4 51 0.76 0.030 16 52.5 1.63 0.064
5 51 0.76 0.030 18 48.5 1.27 0.050
6 48 0.69 0.027 20 44 1.09 0.043
7 48 0.69 0.027 22 40.5 0.94 0.037
8 42.5 0.61 0.024 24 37 0.76 0.030
9 42.5 0.61 0.024 26 34 0.61 0.024
10 40.5 0.53 0.021 28 32.5 0.53 0.021
18 62.5 1.09 0.043
15 69 1.83 0.072
Chenille - JJ188
Size Length Diameter Diameter
Yarn Darners - JJ145 mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

Size Length Diameter Diameter 13 69 2.34 0.092

mm mm Thousandths of an Inch 14 58 2.03 0.080

14 (5/0) 75 2.03 0.080 16 52.5 1.63 0.064

15 (4/0) 69 1.83 0.072 18 48.5 1.27 0.050

16 (3/0) 66 1.63 0.064 20 44 1.09 0.043

17 (2/0) 63 1.42 0.056 22 40.5 0.94 0.037

18 (1/0) 60 1.27 0.050 24 37 0.76 0.030

26 34 0.61 0.024

Cotton/Short Darners - JJ145

Size Length Diameter Diameter Beading - JJ105
mm mm Thousandths of an Inch Size Length Diameter Diameter
1 57.5 1.02 0.040 mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

3 51 0.86 0.034 10 55 0.46 0.018

5 49 0.76 0.030 11 51 0.41 0.016
7 47 0.69 0.027 12 51 0.36 0.014
9 45 0.61 0.024 13 49 0.30 0.012
11 36 0.46 0.018 15 45 0.25 0.010

Long Darners - JJ165 Short Beading/Bead Embroidery - JJ107

Size Length Diameter Diameter Size Length Diameter Diameter

mm mm Thousandths of an Inch mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

15 (4/0) 95 1.83 0.072 Sharp Point

17 (2/0) 85 1.42 0.056 10 32.5 0.46 0.018
1 75 1.02 0.040
12 32.5 0.36 0.014
3 70 0.86 0.034
5 64 0.76 0.030
7 58 0.69 0.027
9 52 0.61 0.024

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Needle Lengths & Diameters

Ball Point Bead Embroidery - JJ107 Saddlers Harness - L3912

Size Length Diameter Diameter Size Length Diameter Diameter
mm mm Thousandths of an Inch mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

Tapestry Point 1 54 1.02 0.040

10 32.5 0.46 0.018 2 54 1.02 0.040

3 54 1.02 0.040
12 32.5 0.36 0.014
4 48 0.86 0.034
18 (1/0) 57.5 1.09 0.043
Long Beading - L4321 17 (2/0) 59.5 1.42 0.056
Size Length Diameter Diameter 16 (3/0) 61.5 1.63 0.064
mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

12 76 0.36 0.014
Saddlers/Betweens - L3911
Size Length Diameter Diameter
Doll/Soft Sculpture - JJ60335 mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

Size Length Diameter Diameter 1 41 1.02 0.040

mm mm Thousandths of an Inch 2 39 0.86 0.034
3¹/2” 89 1.09 0.043 3 39 0.86 0.034
5” 127 1.09 0.043 4 35 0.76 0.030
7” 178 1.09 0.043 5 35 0.76 0.030
6 31.5 0.69 0.027

Bodkins - JJ60900 7 31.5 0.69 0.027

8 28.5 0.61 0.024
Size Length Diameter Diameter
mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

Flat Bodkins Bookbinders/Straw - L4303

N/A 72 N/A N/A Size Length Diameter Diameter
mm mm Thousandths of an Inch
Round Bodkins
15 69 1.83 0.072
17 59.5 1.42 0.056
18 62.5 1.09 0.043

Primary - JJ485
Size Length Diameter Diameter
mm mm Thousandths of an Inch

1 33 1.16 0.046
3 33 1.02 0.040
5 33.5 0.86 0.034

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Entaco Limited | Unit 90 | Washford Industrial Estate
Redditch | Worcestershire | B98 0EA
+44 (0)1527 830 941 | [email protected]