You've spent hours browsing different types of sewing machines, from mechanical models to quilting machines. Finally, you've settled on the perfect build to suit your budget and the kinds of sewing projects you want to pursue! Hopefully, that's the most challenging part over and done with? Well, not quite. Different fabrics and materials require different sizes and shapes of a needle, and your machine needs to accommodate the switches.
Should you feel overwhelmed with all the choices for sewing needles, you're in the right place! Here at Singer Outlet, we've developed this guide covering how to choose the right sewing needle for your machine. Keep reading to determine the ideal shape and size of the tool for your material!
How To Choose The Right Sewing Needle
For Woven Fabrics:
Your machine can tackle standard woven fabrics with a universal needle. Size 80 to 90 needles suit medium weight woven fabric, and they're an essential addition to any sewing machine. The higher the number, the thicker the needle. For heavyweight woven fabric, try universal needles at size 100 or 110, or they'll break.
For Knit Fabrics and Jerseys:
Knit materials will skip and curl if you attempt to use a standard needlepoint. To achieve quality sewing on your knit fabric, try a ballpoint needle. Ballpoint needles are readily available from size 70 to size 90 to suit all weights of knit materials.
For Silks:
Silks require a very fine needle, as slim as size 60, or you can tear your material. Medium-weight silk will require a slightly thicker needle, around a size 80, to work effectively through your fabric. A stretch needle is a sensible choice for a silk jersey as they have a hook to prevent skipped stitches.
For Leathers:
Leather is an exceptionally thick material that can prove difficult to penetrate, so you'll need a durable needle with reasonable thickness. Chisel point needles have a triangular shape made for the tough job, and they are often labelled 'leather needles'. Depending on the weight of your leather, choose a needle with a higher number for a greater thickness.
For Latex And Elastic Fabrics:
Stretch sewing machine needles will be your best friend for latex and elastic fabrics. Just as previously mentioned, your stretch needles have a hook for use with any silk jersey to prevent skipped stitches. Stretch needles won't tear your fabric or produce uneven work. Stretch needles tend to be finer than your leather needles, so expect lower numbers.
For Denim And Jeans:
You can get sturdy needles explicitly labelled for denim and jeans. For lightweight denim, size 90 will suit, while heavyweight jean material will require size 100 or 110. Singer creates needles compatible with all Singer sewing machines, so you needn't worry about compatibility with your model.
Tips For Your Sewing Machine Needles:
- Check your sewing machine manual to see recommendations on the types and sizes of needles you should use. The manufacturer of your machine knows it best.
- Cheap needles can lead to costly machine repairs if they bend or snap, so it's worth investing in high-quality small batches of any needle.
- Be prepared to replace your needles often. Once every three to four hours of sewing is sensible, and definitely before any new project.
- Sew with the correct type of needle for your material, or you're asking for skipped stitches and unsatisfactory results. Refer to the list above for materials that correlate to different types of needles.
- Contact us at Singer Outlet for professional advice on choosing the correct sewing needles for your project, and browse our range of equipment to stock up your sewing kit.