Needle for blind stitch sewing

A latch needle comprising an elongate body formed with an enlarged butt at one extremity, a shank, and a point at the opposite extremity, said needle body formed with a single continuous lengthwise groove extending from said pointed extremity through said enlarged butt, an inclined groove formed in said needle shank at one side of and intersecting said lengthwise groove to define a thread engaging hook on said needle at the junction thereof, and a latch member slidably arranged in said lengthwise groove, said latch member including a lateral shield projection extending out of said lengthwise groove and movable into and out of a position adjacent to said thread engaging hook, said latch member including a lateral extension formed in spaced relation to said shield projection said lateral extension being deformed into a ring loosely encircling said needle shank after assembly of said latch member into said lengthwise groove.