I have a 'twin needle' in the stuff that came with my machine. Can someone tell me what it's for?

My mom always used a twin needle for two rows of topstitching, especially on t-shirts.

I found this note on a website, when searching for the use of twin needles.

Note: Twin needles are ONLY for machines with the bobbin located in the front.

Does this mean the bobbin is inserted from the front rather than the top? My machine came with a twin needle, but the bobbin in loaded on top.

I would think it means from the front, not the top. I have never heard that and why would the machine come with it if you can't use it? Have you looked in the sewing machine book?
What kind of machine do you have?

I have a Brother CS6000i. I'm not sure why it came with one, based on that note.

I googled and I didn't see that. Two different sites said that most machines can use a twin needle if they have zig-zag capabilities and a needle plate with a horizontal hole to avoid needle breakage. So if you have a zig zag foot I think you can use the needle.

I looked up your machine and it says right on Brother's website that an attribute to the machine is the twin needle.

I've often used twin needles in my top loading bobbin machine..no problems. I've used them to do 2 rows of topstiching, and you can also so pin tucks but you have to play with the tensions quite a bit, both top and bottom tensions (on my machine anyway).

I have a top loading bobbin on my Janome and have used twin needles many times. You have to make sure that your stitch width accomodates the size of needles you have. If your machine only has a 5mm width you can't use a twin needle that needs 7mm.

If you use a twin needle to do topstitching, be aware that the stitching on the underside is very different than what you might expect; it form a zigzag between the two rows on top. This makes it nice for topstitching knits, because the zigzag underneath gives the stitch some stretch. The bobbin tension usually needs to be loosened for this type of stitch; otherwise the fabric creates a "tunnel" between the two lines of stitching (from the zigzagging being too tight).

or depending on the size of your twin needles, they could be used to stitch packaged pre made bias binding down.

Twin needles also make beautiful pintuck effect for heirloom sewing.
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twin needles are also great for stitching down the (leading) bias tape that you use for stained glass applique! fun and fast.

I love playing with the twin needles! I've used them to sew bindings down and to create "special" effects when playing with threads. It helps to use stabalizer under your stitches if you don't want that tunnel effect.

You might want to check with the Brother dealer to make sure your particular machine will accomodate the twin needles before you use it though. I didn't know if you bought the whole shebang from a dealer or individual. Have fun though!

I have successfully used a twin needle on my Pfaff, which does not have the bobbin located in the front. I used it for my avatar picture. They are great for stitching down the bias tape.

We used them years ago when we did Heirloom Sewing on tucks and such. I had an 830 Bernina then and that was in the early 80's.

I have a Viking and a Brother. They are both top load bobbins and they both sew with a double needle.

Can someone tell me how one threads a twin needle? I've never used it but have been curious. Do you need two thread sources? And do you take both threads thru all the same channels. If so, how do they not get tangled up in 'the works'? And how does one bobbin take care of 2 stitches. What does the bottom look like? So many questions. A tutorial would be great. Please?

You might want to post your own thread with ALL your questions on it!!! I also have a machine that will use a twin needle, but have never used this feature yet. I'd be interested in a tute also!!

Check with your machines instruction book. On mine, I use two spool holders, there are two paths for the thread on the top of the machine, but they both go through the tension disks the same path. Then through separate needles. On the bottom, the bobbin thread kind of looks like a ladder.
Each machine would be different for threading the top.

I have a viking sapphire and while I don't have a twin needle, it does have a setting for it. I was actually looking for a twin needle last weekend as I was joining panels of a tree skirt together and wanted to hide the seam with a thin ribbon. I thougt a twin needle would be the perfect way to get the ribbon sewn down both sides at once! Didn't get to do it that way though as wanted to finish project without running to the store.

Can a twin needle be used with a walking foot?

I have a top load Babylock and one of the classes for the machine includes twin needle work, so that statement is incorrect.

MadQuilter, you lost me here, so which statement are you referring to as incorrect? Thanks

I have a Viking SE and a Bernina 730 and can use a twin needle. You use 2 spools of thread and thread both through the machine and then have a thread for both needles. Twin needles come in various widths.

twin needles are normaly used in heirloom sewing ... things such as pin tucks can be done with a twin needle as well as having a pin tuck foot . It can also be used for topstitching . Things of this nature . I hope this will help . Happy sewing!

me too..no problems using one with my janome. we have so many stitches..and some look wonderful with double stitches,with different color threads..some of the designs are to tight together to use a twin needle, but it was fun trying them all out!

I use it when making pillow cases. I use it sew the end to decorate it.

I use it when making pillow cases. I use it sew the end to decorate it.

Not true, twin needles can be used in any machine that will do zig-zag. Where the bobbin is located matters not. They are primarily used in garment sewing but can be used in quilting. They make a double line of stiching. Can be used on crazy blocks with decorative stitching threads.

I have machines that have bobbins that are drop in, vertical front loaded and slant needle and twin needles work in all of them. They make a nice cover stitch and also good for sewing jean seams.

I have a very old Kenmore and it has two vertical thread holders on the top.
It has zig-zag capability and can accommodate as much as a 4 mm twin needle.
The two threads do fine going through all the same guides until right before
the needle-threading step. My machine has 2 metal loops just above the needle.
I use the twin needle primarily for stained glass quilt blocks. The 4 mm is perfectly sized to sew the 1/4" bias fabric that serves as the "leading" in the
stained glass.
Just experiment and you will find out whether your machine and you can work
with the 2 threads. It's a nice technique to have in your sewing armamentarium, but no need to stress about it. What's the worse that can happen - if the needle breaks, you can buy others. If you get a big knot
I'll bet that's happened before. Be playful. - Judy

I broke my twin needle playing around to see what it does. Now I need to get a new one. Not sure what I'm going to do with it, but one came with my machine, so I figured I could use it.

If it was included in your machine accessories, do yourself a favor and take the time to go through your manual. Mine has a section on using all the accessories. It would depend on what your manual has to say. Kind of like the laws in one state may or may not be the same in the neighboring state. LOL

I use my twin needle for decorative type stitching. I may be wrong but if it can zig-zag it probably can use a twin needle. I use my two threads on my two thread holders, thread each thread through the tension disks, an then thread each color through the eye of one of the needles. You get a really nice effect. I also use a triple needle for this sort of thing as well. You can do really interesting stuff with a wing needle as well. If you're going to play around, might as well try everything you can think of.

Make sure you walk your machine through the stitching pattern before taking off. You don't want to try stitching something wider than your machine allows!

Twin needles are very helpful if you do alot of heirloom or decorative sewing. They are really fun to use.

Twin needles can be used on top loading bobbin machines. I do it frequently.

Hi, I have a Brother CS6000i as well. The area where you drop the bobbin into is actually right in front where the needle is located. On top of the machine you will see like a peg where a spool of thread goes... and you should see what looks like a circular hole on top of the machine, that is where you insert another "peg" type plastic thingy (they give you that as well) it is for a second spool of thread to be used with the TWIN needle. I hope this helps.

I bought a twin needle for my Bernina. It makes the prettiest pin tucks on batiste material. Or really on any type material. The points are close together, so the bobbin thread pulls a small pucker to make it look like tucks. I love mine.

So what about using a twin needle to stitch in the ditch on a lap quilt???