sewing machine needles
DESCRIPTION
Use your sewing machine to the fullest! Information about sewing machine needles from some interesting facts to needles you may not have used. Double eye needle? Wing hemstitch? Triple needle? Explore the possibilities.TRANSCRIPT
130/705 H130/705 H needles are the same as 15x1 h needles (Japanese) and the 2020 (Singer). All needles in this system have a flattened shank for perfect positioning in the sewing machine. Household sewing machines require a needle with a flattened shank.
Reading a Needle Packet
Too many numbers on the packet? What do they really mean? Follow the example.
Needle type - Leather
Needle system - 130/705 HL (H=Hohlkehle in German, means “with scarf”, L is for leather)
Needle size - 90/14 (90=number metric is the diameter of the needle
blade in hundredths of a millimetre measured above the scarf (short groove). Needle with a blade diameter of .90 mm corresponds to NM 80.
90/14 - 90 is European, 14 is American
Needles you may not have used
Microtex Needle - artificial leather, brocade, chiffon, coated fabrics, crepe, crinkle, foils, lame, microfiber, nylon, oil cloth, polyester, poplin,silk, taffeta, waxed cloth
Stretch Needle - bed linen jersey, knit cotton, elastic, fleece, jersey with elastic, lycra, silk jersey, velour jersey, velvet, lingerie
Jersey Needle - artificial fur, boucle, knit cotton, gauze, jersey, knits with elastic, lingerie, lycra, sweatshirt, tulle
z The Perfect Needle zJust as important as a working sewing machine, using the correct
needle is crucial. The love and time you put into your sewing creations deserve the best. Always choose your needles to match
your sewing project.
C H A R L E N E P H I L L I P S W W W. T H E S E W B O X . C O M
NEEDLE information2 0 1 0 T H E S E W B O X
the
Universal Needle - general sewing, woven & knit fabrics - 8/60, 9/65, 10/70, 11/75, 12/80, 14/90, 16/100, 18/110 through 19/120.
Microtex Needle - straight stitching on delicate & microfiber fabrics, sharp point - 8/60, 9/65, 10/70, 11/75, 12/80, 14/90
Jersey Needle - knits & stretch fabrics - 10/70, 12/80, 14/90, 16/100
Leather Needle - leather, artificial leather, heavy non-woven fabrics. -
10/70, 12/80, 14/90, 16/100, 18/110, 19/120
Denim/jeans Needle -denim, densely woven fabrics, when need a very straight stitch on layered fabrics - very sharp point - 10/70, 11/75, 12/80, 14/90, 16/100, 18/110
Stretch Needle - synthetic suede & elastic knitwear, deep scarf to prevent skipped stitches - 11/75, 14/90
Topstitch Needle - extra sharp, enlarged groove for larger diameter threads - 12/80, 14/90, 16/100
TWIN AND TRIPLE NEEDLE
Choose according to the
fabric and thread type. They are usually available
in universal, stretch, jeans,
metallic, embroidery. Range from 1.6 to 4.0 as
distance between needles. Perfect for pintucks,
topstitching, and decorative
stitching.
METALLIC NEEDLE
The metallic needle is
designed with an enlarged eye that will accommodate
specialty threads without
shredding. They are available in 12/80 and
14/90.
WING (HEMSTITCH)
NEEDLEDesigned with a wing
(flange) on each side of the
needle. Use for light and medium weight fabric.
Perfect for heirloom sewing, cutwork, or
creating the holes for edged
crochet. Also comes as a double
QUILTING NEEDLE
The quilting needle has a
taper to the shaft and a very sharp point. This
design prevents damage to
layered fabrics. They are available in sizes 11/75,
12/80, and 14/90.
SPRING NEEDLEUse for free hand quilting
& embroidery. Insert the
needle, remove your presser foot. Universal.
Sizes 10/70, 12/80, 14/90.
SCHMETZ DOUBLE EYE
NEEDLE
SYSTEM 705 DE
The needle has two eyes.
Using two thread colors results in beautiful
decorative stitches.
Use two spools of
different colored threads,
and having each unwind in the opposite direction.
This prevents tangling.
Check your manual for threading, similar to the
twin needle. Thread paths are followed as with
normal threading until you come to the needle
eye.
Just some fun & interesting facts...The oldest needles had a split end which gripped the fabric. The next needles began to have the same characteristics of modern needles - an eye at one end and a tapered point at the other.
The invention of the sewing machine led to the creation of the sewing machine needle. Around 1800, B Krems, Mayen, Germany, used a needle with had the eye close to the point. Additional improvements led to our needle of today.
There were many size designations for the early needles. In 1953, the metric size was designated. The abbreviation NM was introduced. NM stands for “number metric”.
The NM is the diameter of the needle blade in hundredths of a millimetre measured above the short groove (scarf). A needle with a blade diameter of 0.90 mm corresponds to NM 90.
Household machines use the needle system of 130/705 H.
The ‘H’ stands for Hohlkehle, which is German for “with scarf ”.
The European metric sizing system numbers from 60 to 110. The American sizing system is numbered from 8 to 18. Looking at a packet of 14/90 - the 14 is American sizing and the 90 is European. The 14/90 is suitable for medium-weight fabrics, such as flannel, satin, terry, velvet, broadcloth, brocade, chintz, linen, and others.
Remember, the lighter the fabric the smaller the needle size and the heavier the fabric, the larger the needle size. Thread sizing must be matched to your needle, as the smaller the size of needle - the smaller the eye hole.
THE SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE PART OF YOUR SEWING NOTIONS. CHANGE THE NEEDLE AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY SEWING PROJECT.
Happy Sewing!Charlene