Make It Yourself: Wire Needle

Yesterday, I mentioned "wire needles" for stringing. I thought I'd mention that you can make your own.

Wire needles are good for getting stuff into small places. They are sort of disposable, in that the eye of the needle crushes down when you go through the first bead, and thats what holds whatever you are stringing in the needle. For instance, you are trying to thread some eyelash yarn (that fluffy stuff) into some beads and you know darn well it will fit in the bead, if you can only get the yarn into the bead. You can't get the yarn into a regular needle - you need a much larger eye! Here is your pefect solution - make your own needle.

Use a light gauge wire - depending on the size of the bead hole you are aiming for - but even a 30 gauge (really small) wire will work. Pretty much whatever you have on hand will work - but I don't suggest using sterling silver or gold-filled, unless you are made of money.

1. Cut a piece about 6 inches long, and loop it in half.
2. Slip a pencil or pen into the loop.
3. Hold the two cut ends, with your fingers if you are strong, or with a pair of pliers if you are normal. Hold them close together.
4. Rotate the pen around, spinning it like a handle to make the wire twist. Twist it up tight. You will see it twist up into your needle.
5. Take the pencil out before the "eye" gets so small that you can't.
6. Trim the cut ends so that you don't have a little fork (unless you want to make forks!)

And there's your needle!

Cheers!