I love needles and have also wanted the pretty needlework I have seen. The problem I have with doing it myself is that, by the second or third needle, I start floating and by the 5th I'm in subspace.
I don't think that it would be a safe scenario, for me anyway.

The blood-issue is, as jane pane said, easily manageable. And I'm all for using sterile needles and anti-septic wipes is a must.
Remember the SAFE in SSC.