Sewing Machine Needles

When it comes to sewing machines, needles are one of the important areas people often neglect.  If you follow a few simple needle guidelines when sewing, it will make sewing easier and faster.

Use the correct needle type for your fabric.  There are three main types of needles used when sewing.  

• The universal needle is perhaps the most commonly used needle.  The universal needle has a very slightly rounded tip so it can be used on many knit fabrics without snagging or skipping stitches, and it is small enough to pierce through woven fabrics as well.
• Ball point needles are used on knit fabrics, and have a larger ball point than universal needles.  They shouldn't snag the fabric or skip stitches.  These work well on heavier knits and spandex or lycra.
• Sharp needles are used on tightly woven fabrics, or light weight woven fabrics.  The tiny sharp point on the end of the needle allows it to poke through the weave of these tightly woven fabrics and sew in straight lines.
• Click here for a chart detailing the use of specialty needles.

Use the correct needle size for your fabric.  There are three main categories of needle sizes used when sewing.  

• Needles 8/60 and smaller are considered small needles and used for lightweight and sheer fabrics.  These needles will sew through the lighter fabrics without creating gaping holes, but will bend or break in heavier fabrics.
• Needles 9/65-12/80 are considered medium needles and used for medium-weight fabrics.
• Needles 14/90 and larger are considered large needles and used for heavy fabrics.  These needles can sew through the heavy fabrics without bending or breaking.

photo courtesy of asilentstorm.com

Use fresh needles.  Over time, needles can become dull and slightly bent, which can lead to problems while sewing.  I myself have been known to use a needle for weeks longer than I should, and I am always surprised at how much better my sewing machine works when I use a new needle.  Frequently, when I am struggling with a project, simply changing to a new needle fixes the problem.  Old needles can cause skipped stitches, snagged fabric, broken thread, and jammed sewing machines.  Throw away used needles after each project, or when you experience any of these problems.  

Knitting 201 {Double-Pointed Needles}

Why would you want to use double-pointed needles?

The only time I use double-pointed needles is when I am decreasing a hat and the project no longer fits well on circular needles--although, you can use them in place of circular needles for most projects. 

The first time I used them, I just bought them because the pattern I was using instructed me to switch from the circular needles to double-pointed needles.  I have to admit, when I first tried to use them, I had no idea what I was doing.  I tried to knit several stitches, then pass each one over to the next needle one at a time.  I kept moving the needles around and around, but it took me forever!  It was definitely one of my most ditsy crafting moments ever.  To save you from similar humiliation, here are some simple steps to using double-pointed needles.

Basically, what you are doing, is knitting one double-pointed needle into the project, and knitting another needle out.  When switching from circular to double-pointed needles, you begin by taking a double-pointed needle in your right hand (as in my previous knitting posts, I assume you are right-handed and knit like I do).  You knit stitches onto the double-pointed needle.  I usually split my project into thirds or fourths to determine the number of stitches that should occupy each needle. 

When the allotted number of stitches occupy the needle, let go of the needle in your right hand and pick up a new double-pointed needle in that hand.  Use the same process for the rest of your double-pointed needles.

I will be linking this up to these link parties.