My DH just took a sewing machine repair class and the teacher said that Schmetz needles are the best. I now buy needles that say Quilting on them and they are doing the job. When I sew knits, I use the ball point needles. When I sew jeans, I buy needles for jeans. When I sew thick heavy fabrics, I use leather needles. I have a huge variety of needles and use them for whatever I am sewing.