Needles for Machine Piecing?

Depends on the size of the needle. Jeans needles are "sharp", which means they have a very pointed point. Ball point needles have a fairly rounded point, and universal needles have a point that is somewhat rounded, but neither as rounded as a ball point or as sharp as a sharp. There are some additional differences in "sharp" needles. Jeans needles usually have a heavier/sturdier shaft than something like a microtex needle. But you can get jeans needles in size 70/10 which is pretty small, not for heavy fabrics at all. On the other hand, a size

110/18 is big and heavy, great for something like multiple layers of denim or canvas. Quilting needles are also "sharp" but the taper at the point is different, a little more tapered to pierce through multiple layers of fabric/batting. Somewhere there is a site that has close up pictures of the eye ends of various types of needles so that you can see the differences. But darned if I can remember where. Perhaps at Superior Threads???

So when talking about needles you need to consider both type and size. And which one you use will depend on what the fabric is, how tight the weave/knit, and what thread you are using. One reason why sewing today is a bit more complex today than 50 years ago, when one didn't need to worry about all this because all these different things weren't available.

Pati,in Phx

dogmom wrote:

Save the Jeans needles for quilting and use a sharp for piecing woven fabrics. Ball points are for knits, and universals are for what I call "not changing needles when alternating between sewing small amounts of wovens and small amounts of knits". Debra in VA See my quilts at

I use Universal needles for piecing.....have for many years. I know ball point needles don't work for piecing so what else would be used if not Universals?

Laurie G. in CA

Sharps!

For best stitching on wovens, you want a sharp point, like Jeans or Microtex, size 80/12. There is a little difference in the shape of the point of the two types, with Microtex intended to be used on microfibers, silks, silkies and so forth, and Jeans on the more conventional cotton weaves, but either will work.

Needles are sized by their shaft diameter -- the European/Japanese sizing scheme is probably more rational, with the numbers like 60 70 80 90 100 actually giving the size of the shaft in hundreths of a millimeter. The 8-9-10-11-12-14-16 sizes are Singer sizes, and they're equivalent -- thus you'll see a needle size marked 80/12 or 80 or 12, but never 80/14.

Figure size 70/10 for lawns and batistes, 80/12 for ordinary quilting cottons and shirtings, 90/14 for pants fabric. Too small a size needle tends to cause skipped stitches, so if the needle's in right way around and you're still getting skipped stitches, go up a size.

Thread also plays into the puzzle...too fine a thread for the size of the needle gives loopy-on-the-bottom stitching and makes you think you don't have enough top tension. Too heavy a thread for the needle will give you skipped stitching, too. Regular sewing machine thread works well with sizes 70/10, 80/12 and 90/14.

If you'd like to see what the differences are between points, and what the various sizes look like all lined up together, go to

and search for the album belonging to kkl1234.I think the following URL will get you there directly: There are two captioned photos in the album. The background behind the needles is my cotton duck sleeveboard cover, just for scale.

Kay

My Berninas like the Schmetz green band 'quilting' needles. The size is

75/11. I use them for both piecing and quilting. Simple as that. I will not change the needle if I have the throat plate removed for cleaning. No sireeee. There's a mistake I won't make again. Polly

What a great explanation, Kay. Thank you. I thought I had gleaned most of this over time, but there were several bits that I had never heard before - and the photographs are fascinating. . In message , Kay Lancaster writes

Laurie, I am a rebel and use universal needles for almost everything, including metallic thread and quilting. What ever works works. Some people find that using a sharp needle is easier when piecing and quilting, either a "jeans", a Microtex, or a quilting needle.

Pati, > I use Universal needles for piecing.....have for many years. I know ball

I asked this question last year before I went to a quilt show, so I would know what to choose from the bewildering selection available. This is what Pat on the Hill recommended:

"As to needles, I like Jeans, because the long, sharp point seems to offer no resistance to the fabric - just goes through beautifully, even seams. I'm sure the 'sharps/quilting/microtex' are as good. I use 10 or 11 for piecing, but probably prefer 12 for quilting. (That's 70, 75 and 80 if you need that)."

Those are the sizes I bought, and I like them (70/10 for piecing and

80/12 for quilting Schmetz Jeans). I wrote on the packets what they were for so I don't get them mixed up. I also have a note in my diary so I wont find a good bargin when I'm out and forget which numbers I have.

My LQS sells Schmnetz Microtex Sharps for piecing, but I've just noticed they are 60/8 which is probably why my needle threader won't work with them - they are very fine. I got them before Pat told me which magic numbers to get - I had always just gone by the name before then! I have a selection of very strange numbers in my needle box - must try to use them up - waste not, want not!

I use universal needles for a lot of things too Pati. I think the machine makes a big difference. The Bernina sewed well with those but the Brother 1500 was a lot pickier. I know when I took MQ'ing classes from Paula Reid she got me using denim needles some. They work pretty good. I bought an assortment of denim, microtex and quilting needles some months ago to test with but haven't actually sat down and done that. I have this new Janome 6600 here and hopefully I can motivate myself to use it. I seem to be avoiding it for some reason.

Taria

Pati Cook wrote:

I have used the green band quilting needles and the Microtex needles for machine quilting on my domestic machine.........but I like the Universals for piecing. I have a Pfaff and the recommended size is an 80/12. I use the

75/11's and they work just fine. I guess I am a rebel, too!

Laurie G. in CA

Quilters are also sharps, but designed to help go through more fabric than the size would otherwise warrant. I believe those are the needles Bob at Superior Threads suggests for all sorts of problem solving.

Glad to know I'm not the only one who's lost a needle down into the machine. I usually shove a piece of paper or fabric under the presser foot when I change needles...

Kay