Rosehawk

I have a singer 301. What needle(s) do I buy as replacements? Also, what denim needle do I get? I want to make a denim quilt (or two) and I know I need a stronger needle, but again, don't know what to buy.

Thanx.

xxxxxxxxxx

They use a standard needle, here there called 15x1 , 20/20 or 100 x. hit a wally or jo anns it will be any thing on display, don't even ask for a 15x1 they won't know what your talking about . the needle packet will be labeled jeans. I look for the ones with the biggest eye.

I will no longer use joie or wallys thread. I buy from quilt shops and get the ploy cones at $5 for 3000 yds, buy several cones at a time.. never have problems with tension or breaking thread.

just guessing have done maybe 10 denims in this last year. 4 of those just this last August. I wasn't power quilting , I just had a system setup and cheap jeans where falling in my face, hard to past up of that ..

you really don't need a super strong needle denim isn't as thick as most think it is. wash it, iron it cut then sew, ironing makes it much easier to work with. that compresses the fabric, makes it stiff so it will lay flatter.

Cari-in-Oly

Just regular 15x1 needles. I'd get size 16 jeans needles. Now, others might disagree with me here, but if you're going to be going over several heavy seams a 301 might not be your best choice. A slant needle will bounce off the fabric and break when things get too thick. JMO.

Cari

J Miller

I've got four or five slant needle machines and I've never had that happen. If the needle has trouble penetrating the fabric it's dull, chipped, or otherwise inappropriate for the fabric. Also the presser foot tension can affect needle performance on heavy fabric too.

Joe

J Miller

Rosehawk,

I made two denim quilts a year or so ago. Pictures are here on QB somewhere. I called them my All Machines denim quilt because I used every machine I had to do something on the quilt. For the most part I used size 14 and / or 16 needles. I tried Universal and Jeans needles and didn't notice any difference. I did notice a lot more resistance to the size 18 needles when I tried them. Being thicker it took more power from the machine to make them penetrate the multiple layers of denim.

Regular needles as has been said. Schmetz and Organ are about the best with others coming after them. The current Singer needles are inconsistent quality wise. Some are really good and some are really bad. Can't tell till you get them in the machine.

Joe

Cari-in-Oly

Now see, I knew there would be disagreement. That's why I love forums like this one where we can all share our experiences. What works for one person won't necessarily work for someone else. I prefer using my Brother machines or my 201-2 for heavy work.

Cari

Macybaby

Denim is only an issue when you are going through multiple layers, like sewing on pockets or hemming over seams. Piecing the quilt isn't an issue, quilting it may be (going over seams) but going with a larger size needle usually works as well as getting a jeans needle.

I've not had a slant needle "bounce" off fabric, I have had it where the tip enters the fabric too soon (because of the high seam) and then gets pulled offline as the fabric is still feeding, hits something it shouldn't and then breaks. But then I've had this problem with non-slant needles too, especially if I'm being a bit too helpful and accidentally pull the fabric more than I should. I always sew slowly over the really thick seems to make sure this does not happen.

My older Viking had a "granny gear" for heavy duty sewing - and that could snap even a heavy needle if I got wasn't careful how the fabric was feeding.

I use to sew professionally, along with making almost all of my and my two kids' clothing. From silk lingerie to wedding gowns to heavy snow suits. Even replaced a zipper on an old canvas tent (took the machine out to the lawn for that one), and made a boat cover that could handle highway speeds without coming apart.

Rosehawk

Thank you all for your input. My teacher is now a 6+ hour drive away, so it's sometimes hard to ask her. I know i Can call on the phone, but I forget what I'm told often, especially if numbers are involved.

quilt938

great now I'm getting the urge to make a denim quilt...at least I don't have any jeans so it's not a project I'll likely start but I DO have flannel..hmm think I have a regular cotton rag quilt I need to finish- only started it about 10 yrs ago LOL! well maybe that quite that many but almost...

Rosehawk

Not only have I been saving my family's jeans, a friend of mine gave me two huge rolls of denim that had been sitting around her house. And, I found out recently that my dad has been saving jeans for years on the off chance someone would make a denim quilt (for him).

I can probably make at least 2 queen sized quilts, maybe more.