I've always wondered if Singer sewing machine needles are any different than other needles?
I mean, can I use Singer needles (and all others) in my Pfaff?
I've always been too chicken to test them.

I use them a lot with my Pfaff and they sew just fine!

Karen xx

thanks Karen--

For the regular Pfaffis I use Schmetz, Universal, whatever is on sale :-)

Now the GrandQuilter takes a different needle alltogether.

I just always wondered if Singer had some sort of angle or roundness to it that would make it not fit another machine.
Now that I'm posting this thread I realize how d-u-m-b I've been :) :)

There is a difference to the top of the singer needles, they don't work in all machines.

Some vintage Singer machines (models 306 & 319, possibly others?) use a different kind of needle. I don't remember the size but the company changed the needles to more universal type. I bought these special needles for my 319, I had to hunt the net to find them ( I bought a bunch). I know the won't work in my other Singer machines.

Never a dumb question asked. Only dumb when you don't ask.

There's no such thing as a dumb question. ASK..AND YOU SHALL LEARN

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Needle Knows
10:49 AM | Posted by Ellen Anne Eddy | Edit Post


The hardest working part of your sewing machine is your needle. Think about it. It's the contact point, the point to the exercise, the.heart of the issue. So it's worth knowing what needle you're using and why. Because I want to do machine free motion work with my machine, I want a needle that's going to help me do that best.
Are needles all the same?
Yes and no.
Yes, they have a shaft and a hole for the thread to go in.
No, there are huge differences in what that shaft and hole look like, that make them act very very differently.
We are, to be clear, talking strictly about home sewing machine needles. These always have a flat side in back, and that's one way to identify them.
Within that group there are several possibilities.
There are a bunch of specialty needles for certain things. I'm not going to touch on those, because they're labeled for those purposes.
Needle Brands
You can get needles that have every kind of sewing machine branded on the front. Basically Schmetz makes all of those needles. They are identical. Schmetz needles are an industry standard and well worth looking for. The only difference is Singer needles. Singer has it's own style and I recommend you use Singer needles only with Singer Machines. You can use a Schmetz needle on a Singer. But don't use a Singer needle on any other kind of machine. It may scar the hook.
Organ needles come in huge boxes and are suggested for free motion. They work quite well and are inexpensive. But they only come in point sizes and ball point/sharp variations. I think they're better used for computerized embroidery.


I remember being told not to use Singer needles in my Husqvarna Viking because Singer's are a bit longer than Schmetz. Above is a discussion on this topic. :-D

the singer needles in stores today will work in any machine that uses standard needles. if you can use shmetz, for example, you can use singer. they will sew just fine.

the only difference i discovered was that the eye of a singer needle does not line up correctly with the little wire in the auto-threader mechanisms on my janome machines.

that, and the fact that i can buy shmetz needles in bulk to save money are the reasons i switched to shmetz.

if you need to buy needles now, then check your manufacturer's website to see which brand(s) they recommend for your model. if you happen to have singer needls already on hand i suggest you try one on some scraps to see for yourself whether or not they will work.

I buy in bulk like Patrice...if you are questioning if a needle is the same as another...lay the needle from your Pfaff down on a dark table top. Place a Singer needle next to it and examine the lenght of the shaft, the position of the eye, etc. If all is the same...than use it.
You may be thinking about the difference between home needles and industrial sewing machine needles...Industrial needles do not have a flat side on the shaft, they are round. Only home machine needles have a flat side.
The old singer #319's took an industrial needle.

I use only Schmetz or Organ needles. I love the Organ needles and am looking for a site to buy them cheap in quantity...anyone know of one?

Margie

Can anyone recommend a good place to buy in bulk? and do they sell assortments?

this is so true.

I got mine at Allbrands - dont' know if this is good price but they do have free shipping.
http://www.allbrands.com/products/abc0609.html

I buy needles in bulk from www.newarkdress.com They have a great catalog and very prompt service. Organ Brand needles come with 25 needles for $4.95 in your choice of sizes. They work just fine in both my Pfaff machines.

I also use Schmetz a lot and they fit with most domestic machines...as for different needles for different purposes (some of you mentioned this) many quilters are now using topstitch needles for all aspects of quilting and for every type of machine thread used in quilting. The topstitch needles have a larger eye and larger groove along the top of the needle with a sharp point so they accommodate all types of threads, metallics, rayon, etc. For those who use all topstitch needles, they do use three different sizes depending on the size of thread they're using (eg, 8, 12 and 16).

Superior threads now sells their own brand of needle made by Organ and the Topstitch needle is the only one they sell (in three sizes). Their needle is platinum coated to lengthen the life. and no, I don't work for them or hold stock in the company 8-)

Using the same type of needle on all quilting means, to me, that I save money because I don't need to buy separate speciality needles such as metallic, quilting, topstitch, etc. I suppose there may be some really unique stitching in non-quilting activities that might require some special feet but since I rarely go there, I don't worry about it.

This has been fascinating. I always told customers that needles were the same other than size and job--metal work etc.. A woman from a group working with the blind told me that she always suggested he clients work with Singer needles because they had the largest eyes in the industry. Don't know if its true though.

I always use what's on sale with my Singer fether weight, my Elna and my Kenmore. No problems so far and I've been sewing for 40+ years.

Mugs

I use Schmetz in my Pfaff when I can find them...not always easy when my Pfaff dealer left. I have used the Singer needles without a problem...have also used Kenmore needles...no problems with any of them.

It may be true...I've always had better luck threading the Singer needles when I have to eyeball it. Thank goodness for built-in needle threaders!

I use them in my elna. Penny

I used to buy the Organ needles at DiscountEmbroiederysupply.com

i use organ in all my home-sewing machines.

My IL and FL dealers both recommend I use only the Schmetz needles in my Pfaff. Same back when I owned a Viking. You could try it and if they work fine but they will probably snap if they are the wrong needle. I'd personally pass them on to a Singer owner. The Pfaff machine is not a cheap machine and I want to protect them. Even my baby lock uses the Schmetz needle so I just use them in whichever of my 3 machine's is in need.

Me too. I love getting 100 needles for $19.00 with no shipping. Works great for me.

JoAnn's and Walmart (even the ones without a fabric section) carry Schmetz all the time unless they happen to sell out.

Thanks. I bookmarked the web site.

I use Singer needles when I am doing some mending of putting in hems on denims, but for any work I use Schmets needels. I use the embroidery, quilting and universal ones.

I also would like to know where to buy both the Organ and the Spiral needles at a discount.

I used to buy Organ from Discount Embroidery Supply www.discountembroiderusupply.com
888-890-8395

Hey, thanks for asking that "dumb" question. I've been wondering the same thing!