In answer to your dilemma, I quote from the Counted Cross Stitch Tutorial:
"SELECTING THE NEEDLE: Counted cross stitch should be done with a tapestry needle. Tapestry needles have blunt points and much larger eyes than sewing needles. The blunt points prevent the needles from piercing fabric threads. Tapestry needles come in a variety of sizes. A larger size number means a smaller needle. Cross stitching usually requires a #22, #24, #26 or #28 needle. One traditional rule says you should use a #22 needle if the fabric is 14 count (14 threads per inch) or less, a #24 or #26 needle if the fabric count is 16-18 count, and a #26 needle if the fabric is finer than 18. The needle should be large enough to move the fabric threads out of the way just a tiny bit. This reduces the friction and wear on your stitching fiber. The floss or fiber thickness and number of strands used can also affect the choice of needle size. The usual "rule' holds - find a size (or sizes) you like. Some people lose the finish on their needles over time. Besides being ugly, this can make the needle more difficult to use. Special finishes, such as gold and platinum, are available. They cost more but some stitchers find they last longer. Try different finishes until you find the one that works best for you. Chair arms are very convenient for holding needles, but such use can cause other members of the household to acquire a more intimate acquaintance with the tools of your craft than either they or you desire. A pin cushion is an obvious solution. These are small, flat cases lined on the inside with magnets. Needle safes can cost from US$5. for a small plastic one to more than US$30 for a good, handcrafted, wood-and-brass box. People have had good results with magnetic paperclip holders, available in any place that sells office supplies." There, now, we all know more about needles than we probably wanted to. I know I learned some things!

P.S. Sorry that got so long and involved but I thought I may as well give you everything on the subject as long as I was copying it.

Good Luck!

Senior Stitcher, Three cheers for you! I read this post earlier and thought "Well, there is no way I am going to put all of the business with needles in a nut shell." Good job. Also, I do notice that some needles develop a "drag" over time. I found an OLD pack of embroidery needles by "Biltmore". I can tell they are stainless steel. I think the quality of needles these days has been downgraded generally.

Senior Stitcher has given you a very good lesson about needles and their sizes and uses. I on the other hand am the "odd ball" stitcher. I only use sharp regular embroidery needles. The sizes I use are from 5 to 9. These work great for me especially on Aida fabric. Whatever works for you is what you will like best.

Thank you very much Senior Stitcher and all the others who responded. I have saved this and and will put it in my "tips" folder. The needles I are have John James "gold" and DMC " Platinum". I do have one of those magnetic cases sittng empty in my sewing cabinet. Guess I will commodore it for x-stitching. Right now I using a piece of aida cloth for my current project. It works pretty good except it is getting
pretty dirty and raggadey. Did I spell that right?

Thanks, Senior Stitcher, very informative. I will save this. I've always leaned towards smaller needles for some reason but will now select the appropriate size.

syagel, you must be very nimble because I can hardly use a sharp needle for sewing on a button without pricking my finger and you do all of this with your left! Remarkable.

An odd note from this odd person....I have never used anything but a 24 for 14 count aida. The eye is plenty large for the DMC floss and just the right size for the weave. Got my instruction from typical sources in the 80's....JUST CROSS STITCH and LEISURE ARTS, etc.

Common sense would tell you that the weight of the floss and the tightness of the weave would determine if you needed a larger-sized needle.....I'm just a simplistic type who has always used DMC with aida.....linen is a whole different thing.... :)

Senior Stitcher nailed it. The needle is supposed to slightly enlarge the hole in the fabric so the floss can slide through more easily and not rough up the fibers where it looks fuzzy. I had heard about that before and one of the other stitchers also made a comment about it several months ago. I now try to use the correct needle size.
Cross stitching AND turning out clean work is much more complicated than I had ever thought. That's why I love this chat here because I am always learning something new. So many knowledgeable stitchers here.