the red tips, blue tips are how you tell your needles ... different colored ends on different size/type needles. my needles are red-sharps, blue=embroidery, green- topstitch...some people keep a post-it near by, when getting out a new needle they jot down which needle they are going to use, size and type...so they can go back and reference when needed. i tend to just keep the package out, sitting beside the machine. so if i'm away for any length of time and go in to sew something i can pick it up and know exactly what needle is in the machine.