<P> A sewing needle, for hand - sewing, is a long slender tool with a pointed tip at one end and a hole (or eye) at the other . The earliest needles were made of bone or wood; modern ones are manufactured from high carbon steel wire and are nickel - or 18K gold - plated for corrosion resistance . The highest quality embroidery needles are plated with two - thirds platinum and one - third titanium alloy . Traditionally, needles have been kept in needle books or needlecases which have become objects of adornment . Sewing needles may also be kept in an étui, a small box that held needles and other items such as scissors, pencils and tweezers . </P> <P> Hand sewing needles come in a variety of types / classes designed according to their intended use and in a variety of sizes within each type . </P> <Ul> <Li> Sharp Needles: used for general hand sewing; built with a sharp point, a round eye, and are of medium length . Those with a double - eyes are able to carry two strands of thread while minimizing fabric friction . </Li> <Li> Appliqué: These are considered another all - purpose needle for sewing, appliqué, and patch work . </Li> <Li> Embroidery: Also known as crewel needles; identical to sharps but have a longer eye to enable easier threading of multiple embroidery threads and thicker yarns . </Li> <Li> Betweens or Quilting: These needles are shorter than sharps, with a small rounded eye and are used for making fine stitches on heavy fabrics such as in tailoring, quilt making and other detailed handwork; note that some manufacturers also distinguish between quilting needles and quilting between needles, the latter being slightly shorter and narrower than the former . </Li> <Li> Milliners: A class of needles generally longer than sharps, useful for basting and pleating, normally used in millinery work . </Li> <Li> Easy - or Self - threading: Also called calyxeyed sharps, side threading, and spiral eye needles, these needles have an open slot into which a thread may easily be guided rather than the usual closed eye design . </Li> <Li> Beading: These needles are very fine, with a narrow eye to enable them to fit through the centre of beads and sequins along with a long shaft to thread and hold a number of beads at a time . </Li> <Li> Bodkin: Also called ballpoints, this is a long, thick needle with a ballpoint end and a large, elongated eye . They can be flat or round and are generally used for threading elastic, ribbon or tape through casings and lace openings . </Li> <Li> Chenille: These are similar to tapestry needles but with large, long eyes and a very sharp point to penetrate closely woven fabrics . Useful for ribbon embroidery . </Li> <Li> Darning: Sometimes called finishing needles, these are designed with a blunt tip and large eye making them similar to tapestry needles but longer; yarn darners are the heaviest sub-variety . </Li> <Li> Doll: Not designed for hand sewing at all, these needles are made long and thin and are used for soft sculpturing on dolls, particularly facial details . </Li> <Li> Leather: Also known as glovers and as wedge needles, these have a triangular point designed to pierce leather without tearing it; often used on leather - like materials such as vinyl and plastic . </Li> <Li> Sailmaker: Similar to leather needles, but the triangular point extends further up the shaft; designed for sewing thick canvas or heavy leather . </Li> <Li> Tapestry: The large eye on these needles lets them to carry a heavier weight yarn than other needles, and their blunt tip--usually bent at a slight angle from the rest of the needle--allows them to pass through loosely woven fabric such as embroidery canvas or even - weave material without catching or tearing it; comes in a double - eyed version for use on a mounted frame and with two colors of thread . </Li> <Li> Tatting: These are built long with an even thickness for their entire length, including at the eye, to enable thread to be pulled through the double stitches used in tatting . </Li> <Li> Upholstery: These needles are heavy, long needles that may be straight or curved and are used for sewing heavy fabrics, upholstery work, tufting and for tying quilts; the curved variety is practical for difficult situations on furniture where a straight needle will not work Heavy duty 12" needles are used for repairing mattresses . Straight sizes: 3 "- 12" long, curved: 1.5 "- 6" long . </Li> </Ul> <Li> Sharp Needles: used for general hand sewing; built with a sharp point, a round eye, and are of medium length . Those with a double - eyes are able to carry two strands of thread while minimizing fabric friction . </Li>

What is the difference between sharps and betweens needles
find me the text answering this question