Hit 100 hand-sewn bindings last week and noticed something strange about my needle wear

I replaced my needle for the first time in 5 years after finishing binding 100 books and it cut my stitching time by almost 20 percent, has anyone else noticed how much a dull needle slows them down?

2 comments

2 Comments

butler.shane15d ago

Noticed the same thing on my 50th binding. Swapped out a needle I'd been using for years and felt like I was flying through the last 20 books. The old needle was leaving tiny snags in the linen thread too, making the whole process feel clunky. Never realized how much drag a dull needle creates until I felt the new one glide through.

nancy_owens15d ago

Bet the old needle was actually flexing more as it wore down, changing your stitch angle without you noticing. A fresh needle probably made your tension way more consistent too, not just the speed.