It won’t surprise you to know that I haven’t even slightly bothered looking for the needle. But I did get more done in preparation for next week’s craft show! I figure the needle will turn up at some point, and if it doesn’t, oh well…
In addition to the responses on the blog, I received a number of emailed responses to yesterday’s blog post, so wanted to share them with everyone. I’ve kept the comments anonymous, but if you’d like to be credited with yours, please let me know.
If you are ever responding to one of my blog posts which has come to you via email, may I remind you that by replying to the email, it comes to me only. I totally understand that you’ll want to do that if it is a personal message! However, if it is a general comment, if you click on the heading of the blog post near the top of the email, it is a link that will take you to the actual blog on the web. There you can add your comment for all to see, and add to the conversation. It means we can all share our thoughts with each other, rather than just me sharing mine with you, and you back with me.
Anyway, on to the enjoyable email responses I received yesterday for how to find a needle:
The answer is fairly easy. Purchase a needle finder. It is like a pointer and yes it has a magnet on the end. My needles have flown everywhere but this kind of needle finder makes it easier to find. Within 10 minutes I bet you will find where it went. Or, if your Catholic, St.Anthony always helps. If you are not Catholic it means that an old legend has it that if you offer money to the poor when you lose something, ask him to help find it then put your money in the poor box on Sun. Works for me except I think I owe some money.
When I unpick something, I use a threaded needle, exactly for the reason you describe.
Yes, I used a threaded needle after I flung mine across the room. I figured that would help me to find it next time, and regulate its trajectory too!
If you have good eyesight try using a torch to “shine a light” on the problem. See, I use clichés too. I do that as well as using one of those magnetic expansion sticks like a wand under tables, down between cushions and anywhere else I think the needle may have landed.
Walk barefoot.
I use a vacuum with a nylon (like panty hose piece) booted over the end of the hose. But honestly the most effective way is to have my granddaughter over she is always finding pins and needles on the floor. Seems when they stick in the carpet the vacuum doesn’t get them out. Oh she is 15 and she never has actually stepped on one.
Does anyone else have different tips for how to find a needle, or a cliché they can add to our collection? 😉
Occasionally I work on machines in textile factories. By definition, this means that their innards are currently outers, and the lighting is often not exactly pointed floorwards.
Sometimes I drop screws or springs (wow those are the worst). Then it’s a nightmare of weird shadows, lind dust-rhinos and other debris obscuring the dratted things. If a quick blow of compressed air isn’t available, the only thing that helps in these cases is moving around with a torch, and hoping that the changed angle of light picks them up. *holds thumbs, crosses toes* so far it’s worked 9/10 times 🙂