There are various types of sewing machine needles available in the market and each type serves a specific purpose. The three most common types of sewing machine needles used for general purpose are universal, sharp and ball point needles. Universal needles can be used for both woven and knit fabrics, sharp needles are used for woven fabrics and ball point needles are used for knit fabrics.
There is a difference in sewing machine needles because some are designed for different types of fabrics. Some needles are also designed for different types of stitches.
What are the 7 different types of sewing needles?
There are many types of sewing machine needles available on the market, each designed for a specific type of fabric or sewing project. The most common types of needles are universal needles, ball point needles, stretch needles, sharps needles, quilting needles, jeans needles, leather needles, and metafil needles.
If you are starting to sew medium weight fabrics like poplin, broadcloth and muslin, then 90/14 needles are great. Think printed quilting cotton. These three sizes come standard in a pack of Schmetz universal needles, which is a great pack to get you started.
What are different sewing machine needles used for
When choosing a needle for your project, always consider the weight and fabric of your fabric. Lighter fabrics such as cotton lawn and polyester satin can be sewn with an 80/12 needle, while heavier fabrics such as thick canvas and denim, thicker leathers, and faux furs will require a 110/18 or larger needle.
The rule of sewing machine needle sizes is that the smaller the needle number, the finer the needle, and the finer the thread it can accommodate. The larger the needle number, the thicker the needle, and the thicker the thread it can accommodate. This rule is important to know when choosing the right needle and thread for your project.
What are 80 12 needles used for?
Ball point needles are made especially for sewing on knits, such as T-shirt fabric and jersey. The ball point won’t damage or break the fibers as it pierces the fabric. Polyester or all-purpose thread is a good choice for sewing on knits because it has some give and won’t snap if the fabric is stretched.
Needles are important in sewing because they determine which fabrics can be used with a particular sewing machine. Those designated 70/10 are thinnest and best for sewing light fabrics like silk; 80/11 needles work best with medium-weight fabrics like cotton; and 90/14 needles do best with medium to heavy fabrics.
What is sewing needle 100 16 used for?
If you’re working with heavyweight fabrics, you’ll need a large needle size to match. 100/16 and 120/18 needles are perfect for thick leather, heavy canvas, and dense upholstery fabric. Be sure to use a heavyweight thread as well, such as an upholstery or topstitching thread.
The above machine sizes are suitable for the following fabrics. Silk and taffeta fabrics are best suited for the 9/70 size. Medium fabrics such as cotton, linen and satin are best suited for the 11/80 size. The 14/90 size is an ideal choice for medium to heavy fabrics such as denim, tweeds and curtain fabrics. The 16/100 size is best suited for heavy fabrics such as soft furnishings.
What is a 75 11 sewing machine needle used for
Schmetz Universal Needles are the perfect choice for sewing and quilt piecing on finer woven fabrics. The slightly rounded point allows for trouble free sewing on numerous types of materials, including both knits and woven fabrics. These needles fit the Singer Featherweight 221 and 222K perfectly.
The numbers on sewing machine needle packages represent the thickness of the fabric you are able to sew with the needles. The larger the numbers, the thicker the fabric you can sew. Conversely, smaller numbers are for sewing finer fabrics.
What is a 65 9 needle used for?
Needle sizes play a vital role in the quality of your embroidery. Smaller needles produce finer stitches, while larger needles are better suited for heavier fabrics. The most common needle sizes are 65/9 and 70/10. The 65/9 is the smallest of the more common needles and is best suited for fine fabrics, 60-weight thread, and delicate design details and tiny lettering. The 70/10 is a good needle size for a larger majority of embroidery work and is best suited for fine fabrics, design details and small lettering.
Different types of needles serve different purposes. Universal needles are good for general sewing, while ballpoint needles are best for fabrics that might pucker or tear easily. Quilting needles are good for, well, quilting! And sharp needles are best for working with leather or denim. Topstitching needles are good for, you guessed it, topstitching. Stretch needles are made specifically for sewing stretchy fabrics.
Should I use ballpoint or stretch needle
A ballpoint needle can be used when sewing most knits, such as french terry, ribbing, interlock, double knits and fleece. For highly elastic fabrics, opt for a stretch needle instead.
A ballpoint needle is ideal for use with heavier, looser sweater knits, as the rounded point prevents the fabric from laddering or snagging. A stretch needle is the best choice for use with highly elastic fabrics like Spandex or Lycra, as the slightly less rounded point helps prevent skipped stitches.
What do the needle colors mean?
Most, but not all, household needles now have two bands of color. The top color band indicates needle type and the lower color band indicates needle size. Due to special features, SCHMETZ Universal, Hemstitch, Double Eye, and Quick Threading needles only have one color band to identify needle size.
Needles come in different sizes to accommodate different types of fabric. The most widely used needles are the 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 sizes, in other words, half a millimeter to a millimeter thick. The size of the needle you use will depend on the weight and thickness of the fabric you’re working with.
Final Words
The difference in sewing machine needles is that one is for heavy fabrics and one is for light fabrics.
Picking the right sewing machine needle is important because the needle is responsible for making the stitches. The needle also needs to be compatible with the fabric you are using. If you are using a light-weight fabric, you will need a different needle than if you are using a heavy-weight fabric.
