Grain sack sewing needle?

[Harry K]

Anyone know of a source? I tried Google and found lots of references but no sources. Did find one set on Ebay.

Harry K

[Dean Hoffman]

Would leather working type needles work possibly?

Dean

[Don Phillipson]

Ask for a carpet needle.

[Sheldon]

Unless you're seeking a particular machine needle to fit a particular grain sack sewing machine any large sewing needle will work for sewing heavy fabric by hand.

Also, most marine supply shops will carry sailmaker's sewing supplies; sailmaker's needles , palms, and thread.

You can also search and .

[Farm1]

references

This probably won't be any help to you given that I live in Aus, but I went into my local rural suppliers shop to look for one and when they didn't have one I got them to order one in for me.

[Harry K]

Thanks to everyone. Several very good suggestions. My brother had asked about them as we both grew up back in those days and had actually been given lessons on how to sew sacks. He wanted one to use for stringing salmon for smoking.

The carpet needle, sail needle, leather working needle all sound like a good choices. Actually I suspect better at they will just punch a hole. A sack needle cuts a slot.

I will suggest it to him.

Harry K

[Goedjn]

Are you talking about just a needle (hand or machine?) that will sew through sacking? If so, a plain old denim needle will work fine. If you're talking about something that will handle that almost twine-sized thread they sew the sacks shut with, then for hand-stitching I'd look for a sewing awl. (like this:

If it's for machine work, you probably want a size 18/110 ball-point needle.

[Goedjn]

Wouldn't you use a spudge through the eye-sockets for that?

[Cliff Hartle]

like this

[Grandpa]

No, what he wants are these:

or if that wraps too much:

doesn't have the leather glove that makes using them easier. Dang, I'm old!

[Grandpa]

Took me a few minutes, but here's a source:

in "view our products", "industrial product line", about 3/4 down the page are "burlap sack needles"

[Goedjn]

That's what hes *ASKED* for, yes. But what he really NEEDS is one of these bait-irons:

[MiikeB]

A quick Google search for "sack needle" came up with a couple:

MikeB

[Harry K]

Never having done it myself or plan to... I thought his request was rather odd also as a sacking needle is not the tool I would have thought of.

For those who haven't seen one, they are a fairly long needle with a narrow "leaf" end that have been sharpened on both edges. Some are straight, some curved. Rather than just poking a hole, they cut a slot through the material.

Harry K

[Harry K]

Yeah, thems the thingies. I suggested he look into the various suggestions plus add a "sailmakers palm" I saw that set on ebay and shuddered at the price.

Join the club!

Harry K

[Harry K]

Thanks. I forwarded it too him. I suspect he will choose a more logical option.

Harry K

[Harry K]

Thanks. Sent that to him too.

Harry K

[norminn]

Bag material that I am familiar with is osnaburg, a med-heavy cotton. A needle suitable for that or for denim would be size 16 or 18. Should be able to find them at any sewing goods store - Joann Fabrics and Hancock come to mind; both have websites.

[Larry Caldwell]

A sack needle has a unique design. The eye has a spring loaded slot on one side, so you can just grab twine off the skein and slip it into the needle without threading. The eye is flat and sharpened on one edge, so you can use the eye to cut the twine when you finish sewing the sack.

[aspasia]

Have been following this thread with interest. I have a situation where a fairly valuable rug is unraveling at both ends. I'm at fault because I didn't do anything about it soon enough.

Now I want to locate a good quality binding, but before I sew it on, I have to "whip-stitch" (correct term?) the raveled ends. OK I will get a needle with a big eye, but what should I use to whip the ends? An ordinary thread? If not, anybody know what else to use?

Also referrals to appropriate groups appreciated.

TIA

Aspaisa