What needle should I use to weave in crochet ends?

A tapestry needle (also called a yarn needle). The blunt tip slides between stitches without splitting your yarn.

What is the difference between a tapestry needle and a chenille needle?

Both have large eyes, but a tapestry needle has a blunt tip while a chenille needle is sharp. Use tapestry for yarn work, chenille for piercing tightly woven fabric.

Can I use a regular sewing needle for crochet?

You can in a pinch, but the small eye makes threading yarn difficult and the sharp tip will split your stitches. A tapestry needle is much easier.

What needle do I need to add beads to my crochet?

A beading needle. They are thin enough to fit through seed bead holes. Pre-string your beads onto the yarn before you start crocheting.

What size tapestry needle should I use for different yarn weights?

Match needle eye size to your yarn thickness. For lace and fingering weight, use a size 18–20 tapestry needle. For DK and worsted, a size 14–16 works well. For bulky and super bulky yarn, use a size 13 or larger. The needle should thread easily without bending the yarn.

What needle should I use to weave in crochet ends?

A tapestry needle (also called a yarn needle). The blunt tip slides between stitches without splitting your yarn.

What is the difference between a tapestry needle and a chenille needle?

Both have large eyes, but a tapestry needle has a blunt tip while a chenille needle is sharp. Use tapestry for yarn work, chenille for piercing tightly woven fabric.

Can I use a regular sewing needle for crochet?

You can in a pinch, but the small eye makes threading yarn difficult and the sharp tip will split your stitches. A tapestry needle is much easier.

What needle do I need to add beads to my crochet?

A beading needle. They are thin enough to fit through seed bead holes. Pre-string your beads onto the yarn before you start crocheting.

What size tapestry needle should I use for different yarn weights?

Match needle eye size to your yarn thickness. For lace and fingering weight, use a size 18–20 tapestry needle. For DK and worsted, a size 14–16 works well. For bulky and super bulky yarn, use a size 13 or larger. The needle should thread easily without bending the yarn.

Sewing & Craft Needle Guide

Knitting & Crochet

Visual guide to needle types: tapestry, chenille, embroidery, sharps, beading, and more. Know which needle to use for every project.

Tapestry Needle

Also called: Yarn needle, Darning needle

Yarn & Knit/Crochet

Eye

Very large, elongated

Point

Blunt / rounded

Sizes

13–28 (lower = larger)

Best For

Weaving in ends, sewing crochet/knit pieces together, cross stitch on aida cloth

How to remember: Blunt tip + big eye = yarn-friendly. Won't split your stitches.

Chenille Needle

Specialty

Eye

Large, elongated

Point

Sharp

Sizes

13–28

Best For

Ribbon embroidery, crewel work, embroidery with thick threads, sewing through tightly woven fabric with heavy thread

How to remember: Same big eye as tapestry, but sharp. Think "chenille = sharp channel through fabric."

Embroidery Needle

Also called: Crewel needle

Sewing & Embroidery

Eye

Medium-large, elongated

Point

Sharp

Sizes

1–12 (lower = larger)

Best For

Surface embroidery, crewel work, embroidery with stranded floss (DMC, Anchor)

How to remember: Slightly smaller eye than chenille. The go-to for embroidery floss.

Sharps

Also called: General sewing needle

Sewing & Embroidery

Eye

Small, round

Point

Sharp

Sizes

1–12

Best For

General hand sewing, hemming, mending, buttons, basic stitching

How to remember: The default. Short, sharp, small eye. If you're just sewing fabric, grab a sharp.

Betweens

Also called: Quilting needle

Sewing & Embroidery

Eye

Small, round

Point

Sharp

Sizes

1–12

Best For

Quilting, detailed hand stitching through multiple fabric layers

How to remember: Shorter than sharps. Quilters love them because shorter = more control through thick layers.

Beading Needle

Specialty

Eye

Tiny, nearly invisible

Point

Sharp, very thin

Sizes

10–16

Best For

Stringing seed beads, bead embroidery, adding beads to crochet/knit

How to remember: So thin it fits through a seed bead hole. Flexes and bends easily.

Leather Needle

Also called: Glover's needle

Specialty

Eye

Small-medium

Point

Triangular/wedge (cutting point)

Sizes

1–8

Best For

Leather, suede, vinyl, faux leather

How to remember: The wedge tip cuts through leather instead of pushing fibers apart.

Bodkin

Also called: Ribbon threader

Specialty

Eye

Very large or has a ball tip

Point

Blunt, ball-shaped

Sizes

One size / various

Best For

Threading elastic, ribbon, or cord through casings and channels

How to remember: Fat and blunt like a tiny wand. Grabs elastic and pulls it through.

Cable Needle

Yarn & Knit/Crochet

Eye

None (no eye)

Point

Both ends pointed or hooked

Sizes

Small, medium, large

Best For

Holding stitches while crossing cables in knitting

How to remember: Not really a needle — more like a tiny bent stick. It holds stitches, not thread.

Double-Pointed Needles (DPNs)

Yarn & Knit/Crochet

Eye

None

Point

Sharp on both ends

Sizes

US 0–15 / 2mm–10mm

Best For

Knitting in the round (socks, hat crowns, mittens), i-cord

How to remember: Pointy on both ends. Come in sets of 4 or 5. For small circular knitting.

Tapestry vs Chenille — The #1 Confusion

They look almost identical. Same large eye, same size range. The only difference is the tip:

Tapestry

Blunt tip

For yarn & counted thread

Chenille

Sharp tip

For ribbon embroidery & thick thread

Choosing the Right Needle

The right needle makes every project easier. Using a sharp sewing needle to weave in crochet ends splits your yarn and creates a mess. Using a blunt tapestry needle on tightly woven fabric means you can't pierce through. Match the needle to the job: blunt for yarn work, sharp for fabric, and specialty needles for everything in between.

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Searchable glossary of knitting and crochet abbreviations with US/UK toggle, stitch descriptions, and step-by-step diagrams.

Frequently Asked Questions

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