I have a plastic box with an attached lid,and it has 5 compartments,all just big enough to hold the pkgs of needles.I put a different size in each compartment,then on the inside of the lid i took a marker and wrote what size was below,All size 14's together,then embroidery,quilting & top stitching in one block,size 8,9,10,and 12 in one block etc,etc.Holds lots of pkgs.
Kathi

I use Kathi's method for the specialty needles and keep the needles in their plastic container. The other needles I keep the packages in a small plastic bag since I can only use one needle at a time. The whole thing is kept in my thread box...needle and thread. Sewing needles have their own plastic bag. My cross stitch and tapestry needles are in a glass jar with a red gingham top.

Hmm - am I doing something wrong?

I've always kept 'em in the pkgs they come in - in the little drawer on my sewing machine cabinet.

Used, but still good 1s go in my big pincushion.

I do the above for new needles. but if I change a needle and don't want to discard it I have another method. I have a tomato pincushion and I wrote the size of different needles in each portion of the tomato. I put the still usable needle in its section and I use a large pearl headed pin in the section of the size needle currently in my machine. No more guessing. I might have learned this from Threads magazine.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

I keep them in the containers they come in, and always pull them out from the left. I put used ones back in the left-most slot.

Donna

Here's a picture of my needle storage,and for the used ones i also have the tomato with the sizes on it.

Kathi

Years ago I purchased twenty sheets of slide organizers (8 x 10 size) from a photo supply. As they are clear, I can see each packet and I know from looking through the pages, which size is in need of replacement. They make the vinyl sheets for photos of all sizes and may still have the size for slides available.

Thanks for the good ideas.

I always kept mine in the hard plastic containers too, but recently bought some at a store carrying sergers, etc., and they came in a softer pack that, once opened, would allow them to slip out. Can't recall the name of them, but they are wonderful to sew with & seem to last longer.

Suzi

I have a flip-top metal box next to my machine that I keep pins, bodkins, seam rippers and such in. I cut a small block of styrofoam(the kind used to package electronics)to fit one end of the box. I used a sharpie to write the needle sizes and just stick my good 'in use' needles in the block. It holds them firmly and they don't get 'lost' in it as they do in my pin cushion.