| Choosing the correct needle plays a big role in | | | | Quilting needles have a very thin point and are the best |
| machine quilting. All too often problems like thread | | | | choice for general quilting. |
| breakage, skipped stitches, bad tension and such, are | | | | Jeans/Denim needles are very strong needles with a |
| simply the result of selecting the incorrect needle for | | | | very stiff shaft (for strength), a very sharp point and a |
| the quilting job at hand. A bit of knowledge about | | | | slim eye. This needle is a good choice if you will be |
| needles can save a lot of strife. | | | | quilting through something very thick and/or |
| At first glance, a needle appears to be a sharp thing | | | | appliqué pieces that have used Vliesofix to |
| with a hole in it for the thread. Look closer and you will | | | | bond them to the quilt top. |
| see that a needle is made of much more:o The shank | | | | Embroidery needles work with embroidery threads (i.e. |
| is the part that goes into the machine,o The shaft is | | | | rayon threads, etc.) The needle has a large eye and a |
| how thick the needle is,o There is a scarf which is a | | | | specially designed scarf for these very threads. |
| little indent in the back of the needle where the stitch is | | | | Metafil / Metallica needles are meant for metallic |
| formed,o The groove on the front hugs or protects | | | | threads. Choose this needle if your thread has a rough |
| the thread as it goes through fabric (or quilt). | | | | texture. Does the texture of the thread feel lumpy or |
| Needle sizes range from 60/8, which is very fine up to | | | | bumpy? If so this needle type is the ideal choice as the |
| 120/19, which is large and heavy duty. Remember, the | | | | eye is very large and is Teflon-coated to stop friction. |
| lower the number the smaller the eye and the finer the | | | | Topstitch needles are perfect for the heavier weight |
| needle and the higher the number the larger the eye | | | | threads and when all else fails! This needle is extra |
| and the thicker the needle. | | | | sharp, the eye is very long and the front groove is |
| Before making your needle choice you need to take | | | | deep. Having a very long eye means that the needle |
| into account what thread you will use (is it thick, thin, | | | | shaft is not necessarily thick and therefore does not |
| rough or smooth) and then what the needle will be | | | | put large holes in the quilt. |
| pushing through (weight and type of fabric, | | | | If your quilting stitches don't have a quality look about |
| appliqué). | | | | them or you have breakage, skipped stitches, tension |
| If you have difficulties when machine quilting consider | | | | problems, etc - it might be as simple as changing the |
| the following needle suggestions: | | | | needle you use! |