I've been using the same one for a few weeks now and just noticed it was turning black. I tried to clean it but that did nothing. Is this something that happens with cheap needles? Is there a particular brand I should get?
this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2023
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Cross stitch and embroidery
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Cleaning with vinegar and steel wool didn't really do anything. The needle still works fine, but as someone below mentioned it's now has more of a matte texture to it. I'll probably keep using it unless something else happens to it lol
Did you try an emery strawberry? It scrubs in a different way from steel wool, and is designed to deal with this situation. It’s possible the residue you have isn’t removable for some reason, of course, but I think it’s worth trying the Official Tool(tm) before giving up. :3
I'll have to pick one up the next time I go to the craft store
Oh, didn’t you get one with your pincushion? …er—if you have a pincushion, I suppose I just assume anyone who does any kind of sewing would, at some point, have gotten the cheap “tomato and strawberry” pincushion and emery strawberry set. Usually neither is very good, but it’s actually kind of hard to find an emery strawberry sold by itself.
Ok so after replying I decided to go look at my sewing kit and the tomato pin cushion DOES have a little strawberry on it! I had thought that was just a little pom-pom to make the pin cushion look festive but now I realize it's full of little beads like you described! I guess you learn something new every day! I've been sewing since I was in highschool in the 90s and never realized the little strawberry had a special purpose lol
Oh, awesome! Forget the first line of my other comment, lol. I suppose a lot of people don’t use them. I don’t remember when I found out what they were for, but they do make a difference for me, both with needles and with pins.
It definitely smoothed out the needle a little more but it's still black lol
I think it's probably fine though. I have like 8 more cross stitch needles I haven't used at all yet and this one seems to be working fine
Then that color is probably there to stay, lol, but I’m glad it helped with the surface texture. And yeah, I have never had that level of discoloration, but it sounds like other people have, and it’s not an issue. A needle that’s working is always a good needle, IMO, even if it doesn’t look very good.
I have a pin cushion but no strawberry lol
That's what I get for buying the cheapo sewing kit
Oh, that sucks. I always desire the cheap kits that come in little cases, because they look so cute… until I actually open them, lol. There’s always something wrong with them.