[daisygirl78]

April, this is great – thank you!

[Loralee]

Thanks April! Um, may be silly question, but how do I know if I need a vertical or horizontal double needle? Surely this must mean something different than which position the needle is oriented? Are they talking about the spools? Or the bobbin? I feel ditzy. LOL

[Rpankow]

Loralee:

You’re so very welcome, I hope you enjoy working on the hopscotch…I sure did. I would test out your stitch length on a scrap before you go ahead and use the double needle on your project to make sure you get the look you want.

April:

Fantastic information, I love that chart! I love stuff like that, it brings out the science geek in me. Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge again!

[Liesl Gibson]

I’m finally out at the studio and remembered to check: the needles I buy are Schmetz 08/09, which come in a box of 100. The end of the box says “system 130/705 H, Nm 80.” Not sure what all of that means, but it might help you to locate them.

[Sarvi]

Man, I change my needle once every … I don’t even know. Every four or five projects — or more? Maybe that’s one of the reasons why my stitching is so lousy (although it’s not that great even with a fresh needle, to be honest). Must be more disciplined about this.

[Justine J]

Me too, Sarvi!!!!!!!

[Nicole]

No, I change mine every new project or so,I do hang on to the old ones though and use them for mending and my machine is flat out so I do hit pins and that dulls them!

If you run your finger under the needle you can feel rough patches if it is dull.

That said,my mother scoffs at me and said she only changed needles when they broke AND she sewed everything on a size 12!

[scgoble]

I just ordered a huge batch (100) of Organ needles and now that I look at them they don’t have a flat side. It was an impulse buy to get me over the minimum purchase amount. Doh.

I’ve never used needles like this before – so that I don’t put my eye out, will they be disastrous to put in my machine?

[Nicole]

I use organ needles in my machine Camille,it is a semi-industrial. They do not have a flat back at the top but if you look at the eye,they are flatter one side nearer there.

I would try one very carefully,perhaps use the hand wheel? Some machines will sew with anything-some are a little more touchy.

[with love Heidi]

This thread about needles is really timely. I broke the only needle I had for an old (prob 70’s?) singer slant machine. The instruction book said singer catalogue 2020, which I could not find at spotlight. I then visited the fabric and sewing machine shop and they said that these are just the regular 130/750 needles but singer has their own number to make things difficult!

Also on thread and needles and stretch material. My machine (a 1970’s Elna) sews much better with quality thread (top and bobbin) like gutermann and a ball point needle (or double needle).

I think I need to change my needles a bit more often!

[Tamara]

I used to use Schmetz needles all the time until I was told I was “injuring” my machine. Nonsense in my book however, on upgrading my machine to the beauty I have now, I decided to change and get just Janome needles for my machine. I do occasionally use the Schmetz jeans and twin needles but only when I am doing something that particularly requires them. They are an ok brand and easily accessible but the Janome ones for my machine are perfect. It is only because it is a Janome machine and they are a little more expensive – worth it though.

In terms of thread, general rule of thumb is to get the best quality you can afford. Some machine specialists recommend certain types of thread but then you do have to watch certain brands. When I first started machine sewing, I was given a great pile of birch thread – the most disgusting stuff ever! If you can help it don’t go cheap and nasty. Guttermann is a great brand for thread. I use it all the time and get fantastic results.

Some needle numbers change from time to time but seem to be easily translated into another number of needle that basically gives the same result.

Every 8 hours of sewing was recommended to me to change the needles as I was going every 10 to 12. It depends on the job I guess but that is what I go on. You generally know when you hear a pop pop sound whilst sewing – the needle is blunt and making the noise.

[Sarvi]

I had been using a ballpoint needle on knits, then the chap at the machine shop suggested I try a stretch needle. Lord knows why, but I stopped getting skipped stitches with it.