I, too, have wanted a slightly smaller needle than the #4 JJ when doing watch straps with .35mm thread. I am using 2.7mm 4Z pricking irons which make a hole that is about 1.5mm in width and the #4 needle makes stitching a bit hard unless I open them up a little more.
When I first started in I almost exclusively used needles I bought on Tandy. I Didn't realise how thick those were until I discovered John James needles.
Most of the time I'm using the Saddlers Harness needle numbers 003 and 004. (https://www.jjneedles.com/buy-needles/envelopes/saddlers-harness-needles-1.html#size-guide) Sometimes I also use the saddlers needles number 004 (https://www.jjneedles.com/buy-needles/envelopes/saddlers-harness-needles-1.html#size-guide)
and on extremely rare occasions i use the glovers/ leather needles size 005. But since these have a very sharp point I tend to avoid them.(https://www.jjneedles.com/buy-needles/envelopes/glovers-leather-needles-1.html#size-guide)
I have to say I have never found any smaller needles really helpful. The Saddlers Harness needles have always been sufficient?
What is it you are making that you need such small needles?
I, too, have wanted a slightly smaller needle than the #4 JJ when doing watch straps with .35mm thread. I am using 2.7mm 4Z pricking irons which make a hole that is about 1.5mm in width and the #4 needle makes stitching a bit hard unless I open them up a little more.
This is all a bit confusing to me, I really love that the sizes 1-3 seem to be exactly the same. :D The reasons I wanted smaller needles:
- Really hard to pierce 0.35 mm Yue Fung thread when threading needles, probably because it is bonded
- My smallest pricking iron makes pretty short slits, makes for tough sewing
- When stitching inside small items a shorter needle would be nice
But since all you pros use the standard JJ needles, I guess that I can cope somehow. Thanks!
I couple of months ago I accidentally ordered 3/0 instead of 003. Those things are huge!
When I first started in I almost exclusively used needles I bought on Tandy. I Didn't realise how thick those were until I discovered John James needles.
Most of the time I'm using the Saddlers Harness needle numbers 003 and 004. (https://www.jjneedles.com/buy-needles/envelopes/saddlers-harness-needles-1.html#size-guide) Sometimes I also use the saddlers needles number 004 (https://www.jjneedles.com/buy-needles/envelopes/saddlers-harness-needles-1.html#size-guide)
and on extremely rare occasions i use the glovers/ leather needles size 005. But since these have a very sharp point I tend to avoid them.(https://www.jjneedles.com/buy-needles/envelopes/glovers-leather-needles-1.html#size-guide)
I have to say I have never found any smaller needles really helpful. The Saddlers Harness needles have always been sufficient?
What is it you are making that you need such small needles?
I think i have #4 and #0001...
@Anders from Jävlar What size are you using now?