Definition

Noun: 1. A large, sturdy needle used for sewing heavy materials, such as canvas, burlap, or upholstery fabric. It is characterized by its large eye (to accommodate thick thread or cord) and a sharp, strong point designed to penetrate dense fabrics.

Usage

A packing needle is a specific tool for manual sewing tasks involving heavy-duty materials. It is not used for delicate fabrics or typical garment repair. * The sailor used a packing needle and waxed thread to repair the torn sail. * Before shipping, the workers sealed the canvas bundles with a packing needle.

Advanced Usage

• In historical or traditional contexts: The packing needle is associated with trades and tasks that involve hand-sewn packaging, sail-making, or upholstery before the widespread use of machines.
  • The museum displayed the cooper's tools, including the awl and packing needle used for sealing barrel lids.

Variants and Related Words

• Sacking needle: A synonym for packing needle, emphasizing its use with sackcloth or burlap sacks.
• Upholstery needle: A similar large, curved needle used for sewing furniture fabric and padding.
• Darning needle: A large needle often used for mending, but typically not as heavy-duty as a packing needle.

Synonyms

• Sacking needle
• Stitching awl (in some contexts, though an awl is primarily for piercing holes)

Antonyms

• Beading needle (a very fine, small needle)
• Embroidery needle (a needle with a sharp point and often a longer eye for decorative threads)

Noun

1. a large needle used to sew up canvas packages