Top 6 Ways to Choose a Sewing Machine Needle for Your Project

Have you ever been sewing when your fabric suddenly gets pushed down into the throat plate and becomes stuck? Or did one of your sewing needles break? Or perhaps your fabric tangled up horribly behind the presser foot?

Several things can cause this, but one of the most frequent is using the incorrect needle. The good news is that this is a really simple repair. Here is a brief, simple explanation of sewing machine needles.

Understanding Needles

There isn’t a single style or size of sewing machine needle that will work for all types of textiles. You simply need to match the sewing machine needle to the cloth you’ll be using for your project in order to choose the appropriate needle.

The labels on needle packaging serve a specific purpose by identifying the kind and size of the needle. The two most crucial features of a sewing machine needle are these two.

You might notice phrases like “universal needles,” “ballpoints,” “stretch,” “jeans,” and “quilting needles” on a packet of needles. Additionally, a few numbers on the packet provide some size information. You’ll always have the appropriate needle for your project if you can figure out how to interpret this information.

Different Types of Needles

The kind of needle is the first characteristic. From the blade to the eye to the tip, different kinds of needles have unique geometries. The most popular varieties of needles are listed below.

1. The majority of medium-weight materials can usually be pierced by universal needles. Because they are the most widely used needles, they are referred to be universal. Additionally, they could come in convenient packets with a range of size choices.

2. A jersey or ballpoint needle is needed for knit textiles because their rounded tips press the strands rather than penetrate them.

3. Stretch needles are similar to ballpoint needles but have a little less rounded point to prevent skipped stitches, making them perfect for knits with a lot of lycra or spandex, sportswear, and swimwear.

4. Due to their extreme sharpness, Microtex needles are perfect for cutting through lightweight, tightly woven, or knit materials without producing runs.

5. Needles made specifically for sewing denim or jeans are robust, sharp, and have a bigger eye to handle topstitching thread. Additionally, topstitching needles made exclusively for topstitching thread are available.

6. To puncture animal hides or synthetic vinyl materials, leather needles feature blades rather than tips. You cannot repair any holes you make in these types of materials.

Various Needle Sizes

The size of the needle is the next crucial feature. All you need to keep in mind is that you’ll need a larger needle the heavier the fabric. But why are the needle pack numbers two different ones? European size is the first, and American size is the second.

You can begin by using the standard reference of a 90/14 needle, which is considered to be a medium-weight needle. Using a lighter fabric, such as sheer cotton, calls for a smaller needle, such as an 80/12 or 75/11.

Additionally, if you are sewing with a thicker fabric, such as denim, you should use a larger needle, such as a 100/16 or 110/18.

Conclusion

Use swatches to test out various needles when dealing with new textiles. While sewing, listen for crunching sounds to ensure that the hole the needle punctured wasn’t too large.

If your needle is having trouble cutting through the cloth, you may need a new needle, one with a sharper point or a larger eye.

Soon you’ll be able to distinguish the minute variations among the various sizes and types of needles and know which one is appropriate for the fabric you’re stitching.