Needles

Needles are slender tools designed to penetrate materials or tissues with minimal damage to surrounding areas. They typically consist of a shaft with a tapered point and, in many cases, an eye near the end through which thread is passed. Some needles are swaged, meaning thread is already attached, while others require threading. They are manufactured in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and materials to suit textiles, medicine, crafts, and industry.

Common textile needles include sewing needles with an eye, darning needles with long shafts and large eyes, and embroidery or beading needles with sharp points and larger eyes. Knitting needles are smooth rods used in pairs to form fabric, while crochet hooks are related tools used for yarn work but are not technically needles. In medicine, hypodermic needles are hollow and used to inject or withdraw fluids; suture needles are used to carry thread into tissue and may be eyed or swaged. Acupuncture needles are very fine and used for stimulation of points in the body; tattoo needles are grouped configurations used to guide pigment into the skin.

Materials and construction vary by use. Medical and high-quality sewing needles are often stainless steel or carbon steel, with plastics used for certain disposable variants. Points may be sharp, ballpoint, or blunt, depending on the fabric type and application. Eyes, when present, come in varying sizes to accommodate different thread thicknesses. Medical needles are typically sterile and sold in sealed packaging for single use.

Safety and care include proper handling to avoid puncture injuries and disease transmission. Disposable needles should be discarded in appropriate sharps containers. Reusable needles require proper cleaning and, where applicable, sterilization before reuse. The history of needles extends from bone and stone tools to modern metal and composite designs, reflecting advances in sewing, medicine, and manufacturing.