Chapter 2 - Tatreez Materials
The needle might be the smallest tool in your Tatreez kit, but choosing the right one can make your stitching smoother, faster, and more enjoyable. In this lesson, we’ll go over the best needle types for cross-stitch on Aida cloth and what to look for when selecting one.
1. Tapestry Needles
For stitching on Aida cloth, the best choice is a tapestry needle. Unlike sewing needles, tapestry needles have:
A blunt tip that glides through the fabric holes without piercing the threads
A large eye to easily fit embroidery threads like Pearl Cotton or 6-strand floss
This makes them perfect for cross-stitch and Tatreez on gridded fabrics.
2. Needle Sizes
Tapestry needles come in numbered sizes. The higher the number, the thinner the needle.
Here are the most common sizes for Tatreez:
Size 22 – Works well with Pearl Cotton Size 8 on 11-count Aida (recommended for this course)
Size 24 – Slightly thinner, also works well on 14-count
Size 26 or 28 – Used for higher-count fabrics (like 18-count), where the holes are smaller
For this course, we recommend starting with a size 22 or 24 tapestry needle