What is it?– In the history of mankind it is hard to find a tool that is more enduring, more useful than the hand sewing needle.  Initially they were basic to the production of everything we made from clothing to shelter.  And we still use them today.  Modern needles, however, have become much more specialized, adapting shape, length, diameter and eye to meet the unique requirements specific applications.  Darning needles are just one category of those specialized hand sewing needles that has been modified for specific techniques.  Basically, darning needles are hand sewing needles that have a blunt, rounded point and a large elongated eye.  The point is blunt because when using it we don’t necessarily want to penetrate the woven fabric we’re working on.  Instead we’re usually trying to manipulate “pick” the individual fibers we’re working with.  And we need to do it smoothly without snagging.  The rounded tip allows us to do that without disturbing individual fibers.  The eye is uncommonly large for a hand sewing needle. This is because we’re often using thick fibers like yarns or very heavy threads. Perhaps we’re even using multiple strands of floss.  In any case a large eye is required for most darning techniques used in embroidery, sewing, crochet, knitting and material repair.  In most cases darning needles and tapestry needles are interchangeable.  Often it’s a matter of personal preference.  To accommodate different personal preferences Clover provides darning needles in various sizes and set combinations with both straight tips and bent tips.  Straight or bent?  Again, personal preference.

What does it do?-  Clover has specialized its darning needle offering to enable techniques ranging from weaving in ends to sewing seams to joining squares to embroidery to cross stitch or to repair functions.