ARE SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES UNIVERSAL

Are sewing machine needles universal .Needles are a key part of sewing, yet little time is spent on them. Using the correct size will improve your sewing and reduce thread breakage. Since Schmetz needles are made in Germany, the European size is listed above and the US size below. For example 60/8 or 110/18.

• The 70/10 needles are designed for sewing delicate, light fabrics such as chiffon, satin and organza. Think formal wear.
• The 80/12 needles are suitable for sewing light fabrics such as batiste, fleece and georgette. Think light flowing fabrics for dresses and blouses.
• The 90/14 needles are great when starting to sew medium weight fabrics like poplin, broadcloth and muslin. Think quilted cotton with a print.

These three sizes come standard in the Schmetz Universal Needle Pack, which is a great pack to get you started.

The needles are needles that can be used for MOST woven and stable knit fabrics such as cotton, cotton blend and silk; just good ole’ general home sewing. Since you are a beginning seamstress and will most likely be using cotton or cotton blends, these versatile needles will be the perfect sewing machine needle.

CHANGE THE NEEDLE ACCORDING TO THE FABRIC – UNIVERSAL SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE

Are sewing machine needles universal .Always change the needle to work with your fabric. The thin needle ensures that the needle fits into delicate fabric without damaging the weave, eliminating snags and creases along the stitch line. Stronger needles make large holes in durable fabrics. The thickness of the shaft ensures that the needle penetrates all layers without breaking and creates a solid stitch line.

Schmetz makes special needles for specific fabrics such as stretch, metallic, vinyl and more. Special needle tips are designed for individual fabrics. For example, Jersey/Ball point needles, used for sewing knitwear, have rounded tips that slip between the weave of the fabric.

Leather needles have a cutting point to pierce the leather as it is not a woven material. Special needles are designed to work with the type of fabric to create even and strong seams. Getting the right needle for your sewing project is totally worth the extra effort and expense.

 SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE SIZES – ARE SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES UNIVERSAL

Are sewing machine needles universal .When you start sewing, you will feel that a certain needle size may or may not work for a certain weight of fabric, just because of the needle size. Smaller needle sizes are slimmer than larger needle sizes. Larger needles are thicker to pierce heavier fabric/multiple layers. If you’ve ever started a sewing project and had to pull the needle out of the machine and weren’t able to put the needle back in the bag it came from.

• Needles for sewing machines 70/10
• It is used for sewing from translucent to very light fabrics.
• Needles for sewing machines 80/12
• It is used for sewing light fabrics such as smooth cotton fabrics
• Needles for sewing machines 90/14
• It is used for sewing “medium weight” fabrics. Examples: velvet, soft corduroy, linen, muslin, light wool, sweatshirt knit and fleece, flannel.

When it comes to choosing a needle size for your fabrics, keep it simple. I have always followed MY simple weight method. I use the 70/10 and 80/12 universal needles most often; 70/10 for true LIGHT fabrics and 80/12 for medium weight cotton/blend fabrics. I use 90/14 for heavy fabrics like denim or when sewing with multiple and sometimes thick layers that the smaller needle sizes just can’t stitch through the fabric. I also use 90/14 on some of my quilting projects.

CNSTRUCTION AND SIZES OF SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES – ARE SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES UNIVERSAL

Are sewing machine needles universal. Most sewing machine needles are made from various grades of hardened steel coated with either nickel or chrome, although some specialty needles are coated with titanium nitride on top of the chrome. Titanium Nitride is a gold-colored reflective ceramic material that reduces abrasion, allowing the needle to stay sharper longer and last many times longer than other types. However, titanium does not make the needle stronger when it comes to bending, and such needles bend and break as easily as any other.

Nickel plating is the cheapest and least durable form of plating. Chrome plating lasts longer and provides better abrasion resistance. Titanium nitride on top of chromium is the most expensive and works better than chromium and nickel.

There are more than a dozen modern conventions for numbering sewing machine needle sizes, although only two remain in common use: the American (introduced and popularized by Singer) and the International system (also called the “European”, “Numeric Metric”, or “NM” system). The European designation, introduced in 1942, corresponds to the diameter of the needle in hundredths of a millimeter at the unreinforced point above the scarf. In both cases, the larger number corresponds to a larger and heavier needle.

Most sewing machine needles have packaging that lists both of these numbers in the size description – (e.g. either 100/16 or 16/100). The length of all sewing machine needles has been standardized and does not require a special code. The metric designation is the actual diameter of the needle in hundredths of a millimeter.

TYPES OF SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES – SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES ARE UNIVERSAL

Are sewing machine needles universal. You can be sure that any sewing machine needle purchased from us will be compatible with any relatively modern home sewing machine. The number of different types and sizes of machine needles can seem a little confusing at first glance. However, it is not so difficult to find your way around the different types.

• UNIVERSAL NEEDLES

They can be used with wovens, synthetics and some knits, although see other needle types below for specific types of knits.

• BALL NEEDLES

Ballpoint needles have a rounder tip than a universal needle, which pushes the fibers of the fabric rather than cutting them. This makes ball tip needles ideal for working with rib knits, twill knits, cotton knits, fleece, double knits and most knits in general as it prevents them from stitching or laddering as a result of stitching. Polyester and polyester/cotton blend threads are best for use with ballpoint needles, and finer threads should be used for finer needles.

• STRETCHING NEEDLES

The elastic needle has a so-called “scarf” which provides more room to thread the hook and prevents stitches from skipping, making it ideal for use with fabrics such as lycra, mesh, two-way stretch knits, silk jersey, spandex and high stretch synthetic fabrics or even elastic itself. Stretch fabrics are known to be more difficult to work with and choosing the right needle is essential to achieve a good end result.

• SHARP NEEDLES

If you are a quilter who works with multiple layers of cotton and batting, or if you work with densely woven fabrics such as silk and microfiber, you should use a sharp needle. These needles are designed to work with multiple layers of fabric with a thicker shank to help avoid bent or broken needles and a sharp point that allows them to penetrate the fabric to create smooth buttonholes. The short round threading eye also adds extra strength when sewing.

• Sewing needles

Quilting needles are also designed for use with multiple layers of fabric and batting thanks to the reinforced shank, but are much shorter than sharp needles, allowing quilters to achieve fast, even stitching. Beginners will most likely find it easier to use a smaller needle such as size 7 or 8, while more experienced quilters will often opt for the larger option.

• JEANS NEEDLES

Yes, denim is the most obvious choice, but these needles are also best for other densely woven fabrics, such as heavy twill, canvas, and the heavy linen often used for work wear. While stretch and ballpoint needles are designed not to cut through fabric, denim needles have a very sharp point and a thicker shank to prevent the needle from bending or breaking and pushing through heavy fabric. When working with these needles and fabrics, threads such as synthetic or blended threads, 100% polyester, heavier quilting threads, and cotton polyester should be selected.

• LEATHER NEEDLES

Leather needles are often known as chisel needles because of the tip that looks and feels like a chisel when used. Suede or synthetic suede, as the properties of these materials are completely different from their real counterparts.

• METAFIL NEEDLES

If you’re a bit of a thread magpie and love a nice metallic or rayon, the metafil needle is perfect for sewing or embroidering on woven or knitted fabrics. The metal needles have an extra large eye, which means these decorative threads pass through more freely and won’t tear or fray as a result of the sewing motion. If you ever have trouble threading a needle, a metal needle that is suitable for general sewing and a larger eye makes threading easier would be a good buy.

CONCLUSION

Are sewing machine needles universal. There are other types and sizes of sewing machine needles and many other types of fabric. As you get more advanced in your sewing, you will most likely use a wide variety of fabrics and different types/sizes of needles. We’re keeping it simple for now. Knowing when to change the needle was learned over time. It doesn’t just matter how many hours you’ve used a particular needle, but also the type of fabric you’re sewing. Dull needles cause the upper thread to break, so replace the needle regularly.