These are beautiful Bohin Straw Milliners Needles.
The definition of the Straw Milliners Needle is that they have a shaft that is longer and finer than most... making them particularly useful for doing all your Bullion wraps in Embroidery. (Think of Bullion Roses or Grub Roses, where the extra length in the needle can easily accommodate the larger number of wraps used). The long fine shaft stays the same width almost the entire way along)...ie they do NOT widen out as you go up the shaft. This is what makes them the ideal needles to use for our Bullion Roses, French Knots and even Colonial Knots too. (Anywhere where you need to create consistant 'wraps' around the needle shaft... of the same diameter... so that the needle easiy pulls through).
The shaft is the same all the way along, with the eye ever-so-slightly wider to accommodate the thread... and it tapers off to make the very sharp, fine tip.
** This packet of Needles is my preferred choice for doing all my Bullion/Grub Roses in Embroidery.
This is also my personal favourite brand of beautiful FRENCH NEEDLES for using when doing all our Embroidery Grub Roses & Bullion Stitches.
In a mixed sized packet of Straw Milliners Needles - Size 3-9 in the Packet, the biggest thing to understand is- ...
TIP....The numbers in the haberdashery system are OPPOSITE to our counting system...
( ie The Smallest number in our counting system (in this instance would be the No.3... actually equals the largest needle in the packet etc!!! ) ... and vice versa -
What would be the largest counting number in this set (ie the No9)... would actually be the smallest needle is this packet!!!
***So, once you understand that everything is sized opposite to our counting system, then it makes it so much easier to understand when to use which particular numbered Needle.
And,
*If you are not sure which number you've used,... simply line them all up so that the bottom tips of the needles all running in a straight line...at the bottom...
You'll see them create a pyramid shape.
3 will be the LARGEST SIZE NEEDLE in the middle of this packet.
9 will be the SMALLEST SIZE NEEDLE (on the very outside edges) of this packet.
...ie. OPPOSITE to our counting system! )
*See the diagram I have provided above (in the view all photos) to see an easy explanation of the numbers/ sizes... with the pyramid. 😊
Remember, the definition of the Straw Milliners Needle is that they have a long fine shaft, making them the ideal needles for our Bullion Roses, EPP and Needleturn Applique.
** This particular brand and packet of Needles is my preferred choice for doing all my Bullion/Grub Roses in Embroidery.
*** See my seperate listing for Sue Dayley Straw Milliners Needles for what we use for all our English Paper Piecing (EPP) and Needleturn Applique... again because of the very long, fine sharp,... but EVEN FINER FOR NEEDLETURN & EPP.