How to Make Your Own Yarn Needles

One of the pleasures of fiber crafts is using all the wonderful tools. It doubles the pleasure when you can make your own tools—bobbin holders, knitting machine latch tool, needle pins, and fan guard sticks. Now, I'm going to make exotic wood yarn needles.

Supplies and Equipment

• Scraps of exotic hardwoods 4" to 5" long. 1/16" to 3/8" thick, and ½" wide
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press TBM 115
• Proxxon Disc Sander TSG 250/E
• Proxxon Delta Sander OZI/E
• Proxxon Precision Vice FMZ

Instructions

1. Measure and mark the center of the blank.
   
2. Using the drill press with a 9/64" bit, drill a centered hole ½" from the top.
   
3. Drill a second hole just under the first with a 1/8" bit. The holes should barely overlap.
   
4. Rough shape the needle on the disc sander. If it is helpful, you can sketch the basic shape onto the blank.
   
5. Mount the Delta sander in the vice. This gives both hands the ability to manipulate the blank as detail shaping and rounding of the edges is complete. Sand and shape with the Delta sander using progressively finer grits of sandpaper.
   
6. To sand the eye of the needle, make a very small roll of sandpaper. Insert the sandpaper roll in the needle's eye and sand with progressively finer grits of sandpaper.
   
7. Finish by buffing the yarn needles with paste wax or wood oil.
   

Enjoy using your handmade yarn needles.

Carole