Marek

And that is exactly the job the heavy needle exists for. A fine needle bends on the third row.

The needle is what people get wrong and it makes hand sewing feel like a skill problem when it is an equipment problem.

Too fine and it bends or breaks in denim. Too thick and it leaves visible holes in fine fabric and is hard to push through. A pack of assorted sizes costs very little and it is the difference between a fiddly hour and fifteen minutes.

Also worth having: a needle threader. Not a beginner tool, just a sensible one.