Sewing machine needles seem to be a big mystery. The multiple sizes, types, coatings, uses etc. Which one should you choose for which job? Let me help you demystify sewing machine needles for quilting.
Sewing Machine Needles for Quilting – How to Choose The Right Needle for the Job
This article is going to focus on machine quilting. Let me help you know which sewing machine needles for quilting to use and how to choose the right needle for the job.
Types of Needles
There are sewing machine needles made for very specific jobs like: topstitching, denim, leather, ballpoint, etc.
Universal needles are easy to find and could work ok, however, because of their rounded points, they aren’t ideal for sewing tightly woven fabrics which most quilting fabrics are.
For quilting, you will want to choose one of the following types of needles:
- Quilting
- Microtex (good for batiks)
- Topstitch
Any of these will work fine. Personally, I prefer Topstitch needles and to be specific, Superior Topstitch Needles which are coated in Titanium. These needles last much longer than standard needles. However, the Titanium coating makes them more brittle and they can shatter. Always be careful while sewing.
Anatomy of a Sewing Machine Needle
A sewing machine needle has four parts:
- Shaft
- Groove
- Eye
- Point
The combination of the thickness or thinness of these parts determines the best use for the needle. A Microtex needle has a narrow shaft and a very thin sharp point. A Quilting needle has a regular shaft but the point is slightly rounded and tapered. A Topstitch needle has a large shaft, deep groove, long eye and a very sharp point.
Sewing Machine Needle Manufacturers
The most common sewing machine needle manufacturers are:
- Schmetz
- Organ
You may also see Superior, Janome, Brother and more. A little trial and error and you will figure out which needles work best for you and your machine.
Needle Sizes
I will admit that I still get confused about this subject. Does a bigger number mean a bigger needle or vice versa. Also, the two numbers on most sewing machine needle packages are not much help.
The bigger the number, the finer the needle, which seems totally counterintuitive to me.
Quilting Needles
Quilting needles come in the following sizes:
- 70/10
- 80/12
- 90/14
The difference in these two numbers is the 70-90 number is European and the 10-14 number is American. Most people end up referring to their needles by only one of these numbers. I refer to my needles by the European number, probably because it is listed first and it’s what I have done for years.
The size of needle you use will also be dependent on the weight of the thread you use.
For piecing your quilts, I find an 80/12 works fine. When quilting, I choose a 90/14. Make sure to try different size needles on your machine to figure out what works best for you.
I hope you have found this helpful. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email me here.
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