# Best Leather Needles for Hand Stitching and Saddle Stitch Source: https://leatherworknest.com/best/best-leather-needles Updated: 2026-09-15 Publisher: Leatherwork Nest. Our score is an editorial rating out of 10 (fit 35%, features 25%, build 20%, value 20%), not a customer rating. Method: https://leatherworknest.com/how-we-research#our-score Needles seem like the simplest purchase in leathercraft, yet the wrong ones will slow every project you touch. Harness needles for saddle stitching should be blunt, smooth, and strong at the eye, because they follow holes you have already punched rather than piercing the leather themselves. Cheap needles snap at the eye, catch on thread, or arrive with burrs that shred waxed polyester mid-seam. Size matters too: a needle too thick for your pricking iron pitch forces holes open and ruins the stitch slant. We compared popular harness needle brands and sizes for strength, finish, and threading ease, then matched them to common thread weights so you can pick a pack that fits how you sew. ## Picks ### 1. John James Saddlers Harness Needles - Rounded Point - 25 Pack, Size 002 - Medium Our score: 8.8/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10) John James saddlers harness needles, 25 pack in Size 002 medium, with rounded points for saddle stitching. Pros: - John James is a classic English needle maker - Size 002 medium suits common waxed thread sizes - 25 pack lasts through many projects and lost needles Cons: - Rounded points need holes made first by chisel or awl - Medium size may be tight for very thick thread Details: https://leatherworknest.com/product/B01IO3U3NS ### 2. John James - RMLeatherSupply Harness Needles (Pack of 25) Blunt Tip for Leather, Quilting & Beadwork (Size 0 (1/0)) Our score: 8.8/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10) John James harness needles from RMLeatherSupply, pack of 25 in Size 0 (1/0), blunt tip for leather and beadwork. Pros: - Size 0 (1/0) harness needle fits heavier waxed threads - Pack of 25 gives plenty of spares for regular stitching - Blunt tip is safe for saddle stitching two needles Cons: - Larger size may be too thick for very fine stitch holes - Also sold for quilting, so packaging is not leather-specific Details: https://leatherworknest.com/product/B07477V1LG ### 3. Tandy Leather Stitching Needle - Smooth Hand Sewing with Blunt Tip Control - 10 Pack Our score: 8.3/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10) A 10 pack of Tandy Leather stitching needles with blunt tips for smooth, controlled hand sewing through prepunched holes. Pros: - Blunt tip avoids piercing the other thread in saddle stitching - 10 pack supplies spares for two-needle stitching - Tandy needles are easy to resupply at leather stores Cons: - Check the needle size against your thread before stitching - Blunt needles need fully punched holes to pass through Details: https://leatherworknest.com/product/B00114RBSI ### 4. Weaver Leather John James Saddler's Harness Needles Our score: 7.6/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10) Weaver Leather's John James saddler's harness needles, a trusted blunt needle choice for hand stitching leather. Pros: - Pairs Weaver's supply network with John James needles - Harness needles are designed for saddle stitching through holes - Smooth finish pulls through leather with little drag Cons: - Check the pack count and needle size before ordering - Must be bought again when switching thread thickness Details: https://leatherworknest.com/product/B085SQB6YW ### 5. ZMAAGG Leather Sewing Needles, Needle Bottle, 21 PCS 3 Sizes Leather Needle | Leather Big Eye Needle, Leather Lacing Needles for Hand Stitching and Sewing, DIY Craft Our score: 7.0/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10) ZMAAGG leather sewing needle set of 21 stainless steel big-eye needles in 3 sizes, both blunt and sharp, in a rosewood needle bottle. Also suits lacing leather cord. Pros: - Includes both blunt and sharp big-eye needles in three sizes each, covering saddle-style and general leather stitching. - Stainless steel needles come in a rosewood bottle that keeps them together. - The large eye takes thick thread or leather lace, and the listing says the tip is smooth and the eye large enough to thread thick yarn. Cons: - Needle sizes are given in centimeters, not in the standard harness needle numbers, so matching to a thread weight takes some care. - A mixed bottle of 21 includes sizes you may not use, compared with a pack of one needle type. Details: https://leatherworknest.com/product/B083R5JXMC ### 6. Colonial Needle Leather Hand Needles - Assorted 3/Pkg Our score: 6.6/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 6/10) Colonial Needle's assorted leather hand needles, 3/Pkg, with a mix of sizes for general sewing and leather repair. Pros: - Assorted sizes help match needles to different threads - Colonial Needle is a long-running needle supplier - Small pack is fine for occasional repairs Cons: - Only 3 needles, so spares run out quickly - Some leather hand needles have cutting points that split thread Details: https://leatherworknest.com/product/B001687P3U ### 7. JNENERY 23 PCS Large Eye Sewing Needles, 2.36in Sewing Sharp Needles | Leather Embroidery Thread Needle, Stainless Steel Yarn Knitting Needle with a 3.3in Plastic Bottle Our score: 6.6/10 (Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10) JNENERY set of 23 large-eye stainless steel sewing needles, 2.36 inches long, sold with a clear storage bottle. The listing includes leather work among its uses. Pros: - 23 needles in one bottle gives plenty of spares for hand-sewing leather, denim and canvas. - The large eye is easy to thread, and the listing says it suits low vision and arthritis sufferers. - Stainless steel construction with a clear bottle for carrying and storing the set. Cons: - These are sharp-point needles; the listing gives one 2.36 inch length and no blunt harness needles for saddle stitching. - A general-purpose sewing needle set, so it is less specialised than harness needles built for leather. Details: https://leatherworknest.com/product/B0893412R4 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.