Universals are not for quilting OR piecing as they have a ball point tip rather than a sharp - I use a 75/11 quilting needle for piecing and quilting with any thread from a 50 wt and finer and an 80/12 for quilting with a thread up to about a 20 wt. Heavier and decorative threads can need a 90/14. There are also metallic needles for those threads and I use a 70/10 for piecing batiks as they make a smaller hole. I ONLY use Schmetz branded needles - the link Scissor Queen put up is fabbo for further info! I change my needle after every few hours sewing, from experience, I can here a 'tick' as it enters the fabric, then I change it. Needles are cheap compared to my sewing machine and using an old needle can strain the motor.