People have been asking me at the various yarny events if I make needles for sewing in their ends, or bodkins for threading elastics.
Well, now I do!
Two styles of needle and two finishes of bodkin available. Choose which one you want from the options (priced individually)
All are fully UK hallmarked, and currently the stock I have are marked at Edinburgh Assay, with my full UK hallmark including the 2024 commemorative Coronation Mark (see final photo for a close up of how this looks)
Options:
A - darning needle - large eye
B - darning needle - narrower eye with additional small threading hole
C - bodkin - smooth
D - bodkin - hammered
Needes are 80mm long, 2mm in diameter with a width at the eye of about 3mm, bodkins are 70mm long and 7mm in width at the eye
I've easily used one of these needles to sew in ends of fingering weight yarn that I knitted using 3.25 needles.
All can be made with either a turned up tip and eye (which I find makes them supremely comfortable to hold and use) and all will come on a piece of DGD coloured felt and a tiny bulp pin that doubles as a needle threader
Tell me in the message to seller if you prefer the needle / bodkin to be totally flat, or if you'd like me to turn up the tip and eye as shown in examples A and C.
As these are all handmade, using 2mm recycled sterling, please be aware that every needle will have slight differences.
Recommended that you keep your needle with your favourite yarns, nice and dry and airtight to slow down tarnishing and that if you've not used yours for a while that you give it a quick buff up with a clean cloth if it's tarnished.
Solid sterling darning needle or bodkin
The sterling I use is supplied by a UK manufacturer as fully recycled with a minimum fineness of 92.5% silver; the remaining element of the alloy being copper.
Copper items are 100% copper
Within my making process I use food grade citric acid, vegan polishes, Liver of Sulphur, food grade Sodium Bicarbonate, Renaissance Wax finally cleaning each item with tap water and ‘Simple’ branded face soap.
Each piece I make will stand up to regular wear, but, as with all jewellery, please keep it away from children, don’t eat it, remove it before washing, using chemicals, applying perfume etc.
Apply body lotion and perfume a few minutes before putting on your jewellery to help slow down tarnish.
The gemstones I use have been sold to me by reputable UK dealers as untreated (unless stated specifically in the listing). They are a natural, organic creation from the earth and each one will be slightly different.
It's law in the UK, that precious metals for sale, heavier than 7.78grams (silver) / 1gram (gold) must be formally assayed (ie tested, verified & hallmarked)
https://www.assayofficelondon.co.uk/media/1431/dealers_notice_2015.pdf