The Ultimate Guide To Sewing Machine Needles
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
In this ultimate guide to sewing machine needles, you will learn how to identify which needles you should use for your sewing projects, how often to change them, how to dispose of them and more!
So you’ve started on your sewing journey and now you want to get into sewing your first project, so you go online to buy some sewing machine needles, but there is one problem! There are so many different sizes to choose from, and they all are used for various purposes. Which ones do you buy?
Overview Of A Sewing Machine Needle
Point – The part of the needle that punctures the fabric. This can vary depending on the fabric you are sewing.
Eye – The little hole that allows you to pull the thread through the needle.
Scarf – A small indentation right above the eye of the needle to allow the hook of the bobbin to grab the thread and create a stitch.
Shaft – The long part of the needle between the scarf and the shank that can be either thinner or thicker depending on the type of needle and fabric you are sewing with.
Shank – The part of the sewing machine needle that attaches to the machine. One side is flat to ensure correct fitting.
Color Band – Used to help you determine the style and size of the needle.
Guide To Sewing Machine Needle Types
Universal Needle – Used for general all-purpose sewing
Ball Point Needle – Used with stretch fabrics to prevent holes
Stretch Needle – Used for stretch fabrics
Jeans Needle – Used with denim or heavy weight fabrics
Leather Needle – Used with leather fabrics
Embroidery Needle – Used for embroidery purposes
Metafil Needle – Used for decorative stitching with metallic threads
Top Stitch Needle – Used for top stitching
Twin Needle – Used with stretch fabric or to create a double row of stitching
Wing Needle – Used to create decorative stitching
Quilting Needle – Used for quilting
How Do I Know Which Sewing Machine Needle To Use?
The size of sewing machine needles is the diameter of the needle. So essentially, the lower the number, the finer the needle’s point. The size is indicated by the two numbers the number on the left is the American size and the number on the right is the European size.
The easy way to remember sewing machine needle sizes and what to use them for is to think of it as lighter fabrics equal finer needles aka lower sizes and heavier fabrics equal thicker needles aka higher sizes.
In the example photo above, the needles on the left would be smaller in size than the needles on the right.
Sewing Machine Needle Brands
There are a variety of sewing needle brands such as Organ, Shmetz, Singer. I usually prefer Shmetz needles but the brand is not as important as choosing the correct size and type for your project so don’t worry too much about this just go with the brand you prefer the most.
Click here to shop home sewing machine needles on Wawak
Troubleshooting Needle Issues
Fabric being pushed into the sewing machine as you sew
If your fabric is being pushed down into the machine it likely means your sewing machine needle is too large of a size or is dull and is pushing the fabric rather than passing through the fabric.
In this case, you should try a smaller needle or simply change your needle as it may be dull.
Your Sewing Machine Needle is Breaking
If your sewing machine needle breaks it likely means your trying to sew thick fabric with a fine needle. For example, if your trying to sew denim with a fine needle like size 70/10 instead of using a denim needle size 100/16.
Another reason could be your trying to sew through sequins, beads or over pins. Some sequins can be sewn through, however it is always best to remove beads, sequins or pins directly in the path of your needle to avoid breakage.
Issues With Stretch Fabric
Another common issue is not using the correct type of needle with stretch fabric. Stretch fabric often requires a stretch needle as it is more of a ball point tip instead of a sharp tip which will help prevent the needle from creating holes in the fabric or prevent the needle from pushing the fabric down into the machine.
Skipped Stitches
Skipped stitches can be caused by several reasons. The main one is a dull needle. Try replacing your needle first. If the issue continues, change either the size of the needle or the type of needle you are using depending on the fabric.
A Guide To Changing Your Sewing Machine Needle
This method is for changing a sewing machine needle on a Babylock Sewing Machine however, most sewing machines have similar methods.
Changing your sewing machine needle with every new project is recommended to prevent damage to your machine and fabric by using a dull needle.
Step: 1 – Check Your Owner’s Manual
To change your sewing machine needle, first consult your owner’s manual for any tips.
Step: 2 – Loosen the Screw
Next, you can either use your fingers or the small screwdriver that comes with your sewing machine to loosen the screw right above the needle.
Note: Before loosening the screw you can also place a piece of paper directly under the needle to avoid loosing it in the machine.
Step: 3 – Replace the Sewing Machine Needle With A New One
You are now going to remove the old needle, dispose of it, and replace it with a fresh needle. Make sure your new needle is placed all the way into the slot so it sits in the correct position.
Step: 4 – Tighten The Screw
The final step is to tighten down the screw that holds the needle in place. Make sure to use a screwdriver for this step as you usually can’t get it as tight by only using your fingers and it may work its way out while you are sewing.
Safe Disposal Of Sewing Machine Needles
As with other sharp objects, it is good to be conscious of how you dispose of sewing needles. A few ways to safely dispose of them is to place them back into the plastic package they came in and dispose of them that way. Just be sure to label it so you don’t reuse an old needle by mistake.
Another way is to place it in an old pill container or another small plastic container you have in your house such as a sour cream container.
Finally, you can simply wrap it in tape to keep the sharp end from being exposed and puncturing through other things or the garbage bags.
If you would like to learn more about how to fully thread your sewing machine, check out this post!
I’d love to hear from you in the comments! Please let me know if this guide was helpful for you and gave you some practical tips to use regarding choosing the best sewing machine needle for your project!
