Weird random questions for anyone

[dianec42]

In my capacity as know-it-all, I recently stumbled upon something I don't know, and it's driving me nuts.

I asked on Reddit, but apparently I did a terrible job of phrasing the question, so allow me a brief story time here:

Aida cloth and tapestry needles both come in various sizes/scales. For aida cloth, it's 14/16/18 etc; for needles it's 24/26/28. For both, the higher the number the smaller the thing.

And for aida cloth (or evenweave) the numbers actually mean something - 14-count aida has 14 squares to the inch, for example.

Question: What about needle sizes? Do the numbers mean anything in absolute scale? Like, you could fit 28 size-28 needles in a centimeter or something? Or are they just arbitrary and relative?

I can't be the only person who wonders about these things, right? Right? :D


Bonus question: Is "Stitch People" out of print? What's the go-to nowadays for people and people accessories? I'm too lazy to design my own (barely getting un-lazy enough to try putting something together from parts).

Comments

[topaz_eyes]

The needle size relates to the thread count of the fabric you're stitching on:

Size 24 needle = relatively thick needle with a large eye, use with 11 to 14 count Aida and 2-4 strands floss
Size 26 needle = relatively small needle with a smaller eye, use with 16 to 22 count Aida, or 18-32 count evenweave/linen and 1-3 strands floss
Size 28 needle = very fine needle, use with 32 and higher count evenweave/linen and 1 strand floss

When I'm backstitching, I'll go one size of needle smaller. E.g. if I'm stitching on 14 count Aida, I'll use size 24 needles for cross stitch and size 26 for backstitch, because it's easier to slide a smaller needle through a crowded fabric hole.

[dianec42]

Thanks... I know. :)

The thing I'm wondering about is whether the number (24, 26, 28...) has any meaning in and of itself!

[topaz_eyes]

Aside from higher number = smaller size needle, it seems somewhat arbitrary to me? I'm guessing it's to distinguish tapestry (blunt) needles from other common (sharp) types. The other common types use a numbering system between #1 to #12 (with a few exceptions). Tapestry needles start at #13.

(E.g., #26 tapestry and #8 embroidery needles are the same diameter (0.61 mm) and length (34 mm). #24 tapestry is the same diameter (0.76 mm) as #5 embroidery, but is shorter (37 mm vs 41.5 mm).)

The John James website has a neat needle size guide for comparison.

[lilacsigil]

Yes, the number is how many of the needle could fit in a particular circle. It comes from measuring wire. The same system is used with medical needles and body piercing jewellery. Because it's a pre-metric system, it doesn't necessarily relate to a familiar measurement now - a sewing needle size 28 is much bigger than a 28 gauge medical syringe needle!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_gauge

This is an explanation of how the system came to be.

[dianec42]

That makes sense. Thank you!