FAQs


What are the different Matsuno Glass beads shapes & their abbreviation?

RR=Round Hole Rocailles SR=Square Hole Rocailles
2CUT=Two Cut 2CUTB=Two Cut Bugles
RB=Round Hole Bugles RR=Round Hole Rocailles
TW=Twist

SP=Spiral

 

What are the different beads sizes?

Size RR SR 2CUT
15/0 1.5mm - 1.5mm
12/0 1.9mm - -
11/0 2.0mm 2.0mm 2.1mm
10/0 2.3mm 2.3mm 2.3mm
9/0 2.6mm 2.6mm 2.6mm
8/0 3.0mm 3.0mm 3.0mm
6/0 3.6mm 3.6mm 3.6mm

 

2CUTB RB SB SP
3.0mm(Φ2.1mm) 3.0mm(Φ2.0mm) 3.0mm(Φ2.1mm)  
4.5mm(Φ2.1mm) 4.5mm(Φ2.0mm) 4.5mm(Φ2.1mm)  
6.0mm(Φ2.1mm) 6.0mm(Φ2.0mm) 6.0mm(Φ2.1mm) 6.0mm
9.0mm(Φ2.3mm) 9.0mm(Φ2.3mm) 9.0mm(Φ2.3mm) 9.0mm
12.0mm(Φ2.3mm) 12.0mm(Φ2.3mm) 12.0mm(Φ2.3mm) 12.0mm
- 15/0:3.0mm(Φ1.5mm) - -

 

Why the color of the glass beads seen with your monitor slightly different than what you have received?

 

Here is the short list of factors that cause the colors to look different on your monitor:

 

  • Viewing environment
  • Monitor settings
  • Nonlinear human vision
  • Gamma correction
  • Color coding

Different Types of Needles and their purposes

1. Sharps

These are all purpose needles used for everyday purposes. They have a Round eye with a medium length. 

You will be using these needles in your dressmaking, to make bullion knots or french knots in counted work, smocking. Applique is another use.

2. Embroidery or Crewel Needles

They have long narrow eyes with a very sharp point. They are of medium length. This is usually what we use as normal embroidery needles. They come in sizes 1- 10 .

Needle with the number 6- 8 are the most commonly used needles. For lightweight fabric with two strands of thread number 7 needle is used

3. Tapestry Needles

These needles have a blunt point and a large eye (Oval eye) – elongated eye for easy threading, and blunt point  glides smoothly through the holes in your fabric, without splitting the threads.Sizes range from 13-28.

It is especially used for needlepoint, counted cross-stitch and counted thread embroidery. This is the best needle to use for counted cross stitch on aida fabric. 

Tapestry needles have different sizes. Smaller the number the larger the needle size. A number 24 needle is generally used for this embroidery. A simple guideline is to use a Size 24 tapestry needle for 11 -14 count fabrics; Size 24 or 26 tapestry needle for 18 count fabrics; Size 26 or 28 tapestry needle for 22 count and higher count fabrics.  If bigger needles are used for finer fabrics the holes will be big and make your embroidery look bad.

4. Beading Needles

These are the needles used to string beads in bead embroidery. The small beads need a needle with a very small eye, so normal needles are usually out of question. Usually beading needles are very thin and long with tiny eye otherwise small beads would not pass through. You need long needles to string many beads.

5. Chenille Needles

This needle have large eyes and very sharp points. The eyes are large enough to accommodate ribbon and other thick yarn. Sizes 13-24 are generally used

Size 20 -22 needles are used for 4-9 mm silk ribbons. You have to ensure that the ribbon is not being crushed when passing through the eye of the needle.

6. Darning Needles

These needles have very large eye and are suitable for threading bulky yarn and wide ribbons. The tip of the needle is slightly curved, making it easier to pick up stitches.These long sturdy needles have very sharp points .

These needles are suited for darning  and doll making.

7. Quilting Needles

These needles have long shanks and can easily penetrate through your quilt layers.They  are quite short with small, round eyes.  They make even small stitches needed for quilting and hemming.

8. Felting Needles

These are L shaped sharp needles meant for repeatedly  jabbing on felt wool

9. Canvas Needles

These thick blunt needles are suited for use on plastic canvas. You can use these needles to join knitted fabric pieces as well

10. Bodkins

These are long thick and blunt needle (some times with sharp point)with a large eye. They are used for threading elastic, ribbons, and cords through casings

11. Curved Needles

These needles are also called upholstery needles. This curved needles are used to repair and mend usually upholstery weight fabric and gives almost invisible blind stitches. It is also helpful in reaching for seam which is impossible to reach with normal needles

12. Leather Needles

These are needles (Glovers) with a  sharp tip shaped like a triangle for cutting into thick leather.

13. Milliners Needles

These are long sharp needles traditionally used in millinery trade. Nowadays they are used for making decorative stitches

14. Between Needles

These are needles used for hand quilting, and fine needlework such as shadow work embroidery. They have sharp points, Round eye and a short length 

15. Self Threading Needles

These are needles with a special groove in the eye, so that you can easily thread the needle

16. Tambour Needles

These needles are used for Luneville embroidery. Luneville embroidery is a term used for making different types of tambour embroidery.

** Credits for this Needle Guide: Sewing Guide