Darning Needle
A darning needle is a needle with a large eye and usually a blunt point. Use it to weave in threads, mend fabric, close seams or work with thicker yarn.
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A darning needle is a sturdy needle with a large eye and usually a blunt point. The roomy eye makes it easier to thread thicker thread, wool or several strands. The blunt point helps you work between fabric threads without continually splitting them. A darning needle is therefore mainly a practical tool for finishing, repairs and techniques where you do not need to pierce sharply through dense fabric.
When to use
Use a darning needle to weave in threads, mend fabric, darn, carry out repairs or close seams. It is also useful for embroidery with thicker yarn. Choose a blunt point when you want to pass between the fabric threads. If you really need to pierce dense fabric, a sharper version may be more suitable.
Common mistakes
Do not choose solely on the basis of the point; also consider the size of the eye. An eye that is too small makes threading unnecessarily difficult and can damage the thread. A blunt darning needle is also not ideal when you need to pierce very dense fabric. Do not force the needle in that situation: choose a type suited to the fabric and the task you are carrying out.
Tips
Keep a darning needle separate for finishing and repairs so that you can find it quickly when your project is nearly complete. Test that the thread passes smoothly through the eye before you begin. When weaving in ends, work between existing stitches and do not pull too hard. This keeps the back neat without creating unnecessary tension or visible distortion on the front.
