Changing your sewing machine’s needle is the first thing you do when you’re having trouble. That’s one of the first things I learned when I started sewing. And this post is about choosing the best brand of sewing machine needles for your machine.
Not only are there different brands of needles to choose from. There are many different needle types.
You use different needles for different kinds of fabrics. But, I’ll get into that a little later in the post.
And here are a couple of other posts I did about sewing needles.
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When to Change Your Machine’s Needle.
Some seamstresses like to change their sewing machine needle every time they start new sewing projects, but I don’t do that. They also say you should change your sewing machine needle after every 8 hours of use.
Unless you set a timer every time you start sewing. You won’t know how long you’ve been using that certain needle.
I do like to change my sewing machine needles on a regular basis. Because using a dull needle can damage your fabric, cause uneven or skipped stitches and can also cause seam puckering. It can also cause your sewing machine to make a thud sound as the needle hits the fabric.
There are probably more organized seamstresses who keep track of how long they’ve been using their needles. But, a lot (myself included), aren’t that organized. So, how do you know when to change your needle?
I change my needle when I think it’s time to be changed. Or, when I notice my machine making a thud or popping sound as the needle hits the fabric.
Different Types of Needles.
Here is a list of the different types of sewing machine needles you can buy.
- Universal needle (used for just about any kind of fabric.)
- Microtex needles (these have a extra sharp point, and are used for top-stitching.)
- Stretch needle (used for elastic stretchy fabrics.)
- Leather needles (made for sewing leather and vinyl fabric.)
- Jeans needles or Denim needles (used for sewing denim and heavier fabrics.)
- Ballpoint needle (used for knit fabrics.)
- Quilting needles (used for machine piecing and quilting.)
- Embroidery needles (used for machine embroidery.)
- Metallic needles (used with metallic thread.)
- Top-stitch needles (has a large eye for fragile threads.)
Using the right sewing needle can make a big difference. The correct needle means no fabric damage, thread breakage, needle breakage and makes a smoother sewing experience.
The Best Brands of Sewing Machine Needles
Now, I’m going to show you some of the best sewing machine needles you can buy. Not only are there different brands of sewing needles, there are different sizes of needles different weights of fabrics. You can find the size on the needle package.
The size of the needle depends of the weight of fabric you use. You use a larger needle with the larger numbers for heavy fabrics. And smaller needles with a smaller number for lighter-weight fabrics.
Schmetz Sewing Needles
This is my all time favorite brand of sewing machine needles. Schmetz sewing needles are high quality needles and I’ve never had any issues with needle breaks. Of course I don’t like to sew over pins, so that maybe another reason I’ve never had a needle break.
I use the universal needles for pretty much everything. They’re great for general sewing, piecing and I’ve even quilted with them.
But, I do have some quilting needles. Quilting needles have a slightly sharper point and a stronger shaft for quilting through layers of fabric.
Schmetz has every type of needle you may need for your sewing project. And each type of Schmetz needles has a different color marking on the needle, except a couple of the easier identified needles like the double eye needle, quick threading needle, and the hemstitch needle.
Organ Sewing Machine Needles
Organ is also a great brand of sewing needles. This pack actually comes with 100 needles for a little under $11. So, Organ needles are cheaper than Schmetz.
I have used Organ needles before, these were actually the first needles I used when I started sewing. This is the brand of needles that came with my sewing machine, and they maybe the brand that comes with most sewing machines.
They are high quality needles and Organ has been making needles for over 100 years. So, they have to know what they’re doing.
Like Schmetz, Organ needles come in all kinds of different types and sizes. Larger for thicker fabrics and smaller for fine fabrics. And if you’re having trouble, you could be using the wrong needle type for the fabric your using or the wrong size needle.
Singer Sewing Needles
Singer is most known for their sewing machines, but they also make needles. Singer needles are another high quality choice of needles.
Like Schmetz needles, Singer also has the needles color coded. I love to use color coded needles, because than you know what kind of needle you’re using at a glance.
When I was comparing prices, Singer and Schmetz seemed to be about the same price. Singer might have been a little cheaper.
Singer also has a variety of needles to choose from, including a double needle or twin needle. A double needle is a needle that has a single shank with two needles.
And with all these brands of needles you can get what’s called titanium needles. That are extra strong and last longer than regular needles.
All of these sewing machine needles can be used in just about any domestic sewing machines. Thank you for reading this post and I hope it helps you to find the right sewing machine needle for your new sewing project.
Check out my other sewing posts
- How to Make DIY Scrunchies: Free Sewing Tutorial
- Brother vs Singer Sewing Machines: Which is Best
- The 5 Best Affordable Sewing Machines Under $200
- What’s Best Computerized or Mechanical Sewing Machines
- Serger vs Sewing Machine: What You Need to Know
- Perfecting Your Sewing Patterns With Tracing Paper
