Straight Needles

Straight Upholstery Needles for Hand Sewing and Buttoning

Shop straight upholstery needles for hand sewing, buttoning, tufting, bolster work and long passes through padded furniture. Livedale supplies single-point, double-point and extra-long needles in several lengths for professional upholstery, mattress work, cushion making and furniture restoration.

Straight needles are used where the tool can pass directly through the material or complete upholstery construction.

Potential applications include:

• General hand upholstery
• Passing thread through padded furniture
• Buttoning and tufting
• Mattress and bedding work
• Bolsters and deep cushions
• Sewing suitable hessian and filling layers
• Furniture repairs
• Accessible hand-stitched seams

Choose according to:

• Needle length
• Single- or double-point construction
• Upholstery depth
• Thread or twine thickness
• Material being pierced
• Space available behind the work
• Whether the needle must be returned or worked from either end

Straight needles are different from curved needles, regulator needles and cavity-ejector buttoning systems. Select the type according to the complete task rather than length alone.

Shop Straight Upholstery Needles by Type

The range includes:

• Single-point C.S. Osborne needles
• Double-point C.S. Osborne needles
• A 24″ bolster needle
• Double-point buttoning needles
• General single round-point needles

C.S. Osborne N504 Single-Point Needles

The C.S. Osborne N504 Single-Point Needle is available in:

• 6″
• 10″
• 12″

These are straight, single round-point upholstery needles for general hand work.

A single-point needle has:

• One working point
• One threaded eye
• A conventional direction of travel through the material

Potential uses include:

• General hand stitching
• Sewing suitable filling and foundation materials
• Passing thread through padded sections
• Accessible cushion and furniture work
• Traditional upholstery operations

The 6″ option provides greater control for shallower work.

The 10″ and 12″ options provide additional reach through deeper upholstery constructions.

Choosing the N504 Length

Choose the 6″ needle where:

• The upholstery is relatively shallow
• Greater hand control is required
• The work is close to the furniture surface
• A longer shaft would be awkward

Choose the 10″ or 12″ needle where:

• Thread must pass through deeper padding
• A longer reach is required
• The furniture or cushion cannot be accessed easily with a shorter tool

The needle should be long enough to complete the pass while remaining comfortable to guide.

C.S. Osborne N505 Double-Point Needles

The C.S. Osborne N505 Double-Point Needle is available in:

• 8″
• 10″
• 12″
• 16″
• 20″

It is described as a light-gauge, double round-point button-tufting needle used in the upholstery and mattress trades.

A double-point needle can be worked from either end, which can be useful when passing repeatedly through thick or deep upholstery.

Potential applications include:

• Button tufting
• Mattresses
• Deep cushions
• Upholstered headboards
• Bolsters
• Padded furniture panels
• Suitable traditional buttoning work

The wide range of lengths allows the needle to be selected according to the complete depth of the padded construction.

Choosing an N505 Length

The shorter 8″, 10″ and 12″ options may suit:

• Chairs and cushions
• Shallower buttoned panels
• Smaller mattress sections
• Work where additional control is important

The 16″ and 20″ options may suit:

• Deeper mattresses
• Large upholstered panels
• Thick headboards
• Deep bolsters
• Furniture where the needle must pass through several layers

Measure the full upholstery depth, including the covering, foam, wadding, fillings and backing materials.

Do not select a needle solely from the visible foam thickness.

C.S. Osborne N554 24″ Bolster Needle

The C.S. Osborne N554-24 Bolster Needle is an extra-long 24″ needle intended for upholstery and bedding work.

It is particularly associated with buttoning:

• Bolster cushions
• Mattresses
• Deep padded cushions
• Large upholstered sections

The 24″ length provides substantial reach, but it also requires adequate working space and careful control.

Before use:

• Measure the complete padded depth
• Identify where the point should emerge
• Check for hidden timber or metal
• Keep hands away from the needle path
• Support the furniture or cushion securely

An extra-long needle should not be used where a shorter tool can complete the job more safely and accurately.

Double-Point Buttoning Needles

The Double-Point Buttoning Needle is available in:

• 10″
• 12″
• 14″
• 16″

It is a light-gauge, double round-point needle for button tufting in upholstery and mattress work.

Potential applications include:

• Upholstered buttons
• Mattress tufting
• Headboards
• Deep seat and back cushions
• Footstools and ottomans
• Suitable traditional buttoning

This product overlaps naturally with the specialist Buttoning Needles & Tufting Tools category.

It differs from cavity-ejector and clasp systems because it is a conventional double-point needle used with compatible thread, twine or buttoning material.

General Single Round-Point Needles

The Single Round-Point Needles are available in:

• 6″
• 8″
• 12″
• Assorted lengths

Pack quantities include:

• Pack of three
• Pack of five

These provide a general-purpose option for suitable upholstery hand work.

Potential uses include:

• Furniture repairs
• General hand sewing
• Passing thread through padding
• Traditional upholstery work
• Cushion and mattress repairs
• Occasional work where a small mixed pack is more suitable than an individual specialist needle

The product page does not currently publish the exact lengths contained in the assorted option, so this should be checked before ordering where a particular length is essential.

Single-Point or Double-Point?

Choose a single-point needle where:

• A conventional eye-to-point stitching action is required
• The needle will be pulled completely through the work
• Greater control from one end is preferred
• General hand stitching is involved

Choose a double-point needle where:

• The needle needs to be worked from either end
• Repeated passes through thick upholstery are required
• Mattress or button-tufting work is involved
• A long needle would be inconvenient to turn around after every pass

The correct choice depends on the working method as well as the upholstery depth.

Measuring Upholstery Depth

Before selecting a needle, measure the complete depth it must pass through.

Include:

• Covering fabric
• Foam
• Polyester wadding
• Hair, coir or loose filling
• Hessian
• Backing cloth
• Mattress layers
• Clearance required to grip the emerging needle

Browse Upholstery Rulers & Tape Measures for measuring furniture, cushions and padded panels.

Allow enough additional length for the point and a usable section of the shaft to emerge from the opposite side.

Choosing Thread or Twine

The needle eye must accept the selected thread or twine without forcing it.

Browse:

• Upholstery Twines
• Upholstery Sewing Threads & Bobbins

Consider:

• Thread thickness
• Breaking strength
• Resistance to abrasion
• Buttoning tension
• Material being sewn
• Needle-eye dimensions
• Whether a waxed hand-sewing thread is required

Forcing an oversized twine through the eye can damage the thread and make the needle difficult to pull through the upholstery.

Straight Needles for Buttoning and Tufting

Straight needles may be used to pass buttoning twine through cushions, mattresses, headboards and suitable furniture sections.

Browse:

• Buttoning Needles & Tufting Tools
• Button Parts & Equipment
• Upholstery Twines

Before beginning:

1. Mark the button positions.
2. Check the spacing and symmetry.
3. Measure the full upholstery depth.
4. Identify hidden frame components.
5. Prepare the buttons and fastening materials.
6. Test one position before completing the full layout.

Avoid excessive buttoning tension, which can distort the fabric, padding or finished layout.

Straight Needles for Bolsters and Mattresses

Long straight needles are useful where thread must pass through a deep padded item in one controlled direction.

Potential applications include:

• Cylindrical bolsters
• Mattress tufting
• Deep seat cushions
• Large scatter cushions
• Upholstered pads
• Headboards

Keep the point aligned with the intended exit position.

A long needle can flex if pushed sideways or forced against an internal obstruction.

Straight, Curved or Regulator Needle?

Choose a straight needle for:

• Direct passes
• Deep cushions
• Mattresses
• Bolsters
• Suitable buttoning work

Choose a Curved Upholstery Needle where:

• Access is restricted
• The needle must return through the same face
• A cushion seam needs hand closing
• Work is being carried out around a furniture edge

Choose a Regulator Needle where:

• Filling needs to be shaped or redistributed
• No sewing thread is required
• Hair, coir or pocketing is being adjusted

Choose Pins & Skewers for temporary fabric positioning rather than sewing.

Safe Handling

Straight upholstery needles are long and sharp.

Before use:

• Inspect the shaft for bending
• Check the point for damage
• Examine the eye for rough edges
• Stabilise the work
• Plan the entry and exit points
• Keep hands away from the needle path
• Use suitable hand and eye protection where required

Avoid:

• Pushing towards the body
• Placing a hand behind the expected exit point
• Forcing a needle through timber or metal
• Using a bent or rusty needle
• Leaving needles inside cushions or furniture
• Carrying long needles unprotected
• Applying excessive sideways pressure

Keep all needles securely stored and out of the reach of children.

Care and Storage

After use:

• Remove thread or twine
• Wipe away fibres and residue
• Check the shaft and point
• Store each length separately
• Protect the eye and point
• Keep needles dry
• Label single- and double-point tools clearly

Do not repeatedly straighten a bent needle. Once weakened, it may break unexpectedly during use.

Related Needle Categories

Return to Upholstery Needles, Pins & Skewers to compare:

• Buttoning Needles & Tufting Tools
• Curved Upholstery Needles
• Pins & Skewers
• Regulator Needles

Trade Straight Upholstery Needles

Livedale supplies single-point, double-point and bolster needles to professional upholsterers, furniture manufacturers, mattress makers, cushion workrooms and training providers throughout the UK.

The range covers general hand sewing, button tufting and extra-long passes through deep upholstered constructions.

Approved trade customers can access preferential pricing across eligible products after registering for a trade account.

Choose the needle according to its length, point arrangement, upholstery depth and compatible thread or buttoning system.