Beading needle

A beading needle is a long, very thin needle designed to pass through the small holes of seed beads and cylinder beads, often several times in the same hole during off-loom weaving. Standard English beading needles are flexible, long, and have a narrow eye that keeps the threaded end from adding bulk.

Needles are sized by number, and thinner, higher-numbered needles are needed for smaller beads or for passing thread through a bead more than once in a tight weave. A separate style, the big-eye needle, has a collapsible eye that opens down its full length, making threading easier for beginners or for thicker thread.

When buying, match the needle size to both the bead's hole and the thread's thickness; a needle too thick will not pass through cylinder beads on a second or third pass. A common mistake is using a single needle for every project regardless of bead size, which leads to bent or snapped needles and beads that will not fully seat.