For starters, needle sizes are strange - like golf; the bigger the number the thinner the needle. Bead needles range in size from 10 (biggest) to 16 (nearly microscopic). A selection of 10’s, 11’s, 12’s and the rare 13 will meet most beader’s needs.

Needle length is totally a personal choice. Some local beaders like the shorts, which are only about an inch long and look similar to quilting needles with specialized eyes to accommodate bead holes and do not cross over easily with quilting needles. Shorts do not tend to bend or break easily and are more maneuverable in tight corners. But if they don’t “fit” your hand, you can easily poke yourself. We like the longs (about 2 inches), because they readily conform to our personal grasp. We use size 10’s for the peyote stitch with Delicas and size 12’s for the strap and fringe with size 15 seed beads when possible, because the sturdiness of the “thicker” bead needle allows us to bead faster. We seem to be klutzy with the shorts. We keep smaller sized needles available on our bead tray for the time that an individual bead hole is either smaller, too crowded already from previous work, or both. Breaking an already-worked-in bead is just plain undesirable; change your needle, and you will be happier.