How to identify used sewing machine needles???????
 

If I have used a sewing machine needle for only a short amount of time I stick them into a pin cushion to be used again. I can look at the needle and read the size and brand and in some cases the color of the shaft will identify what kind of needle it is however most needles can't be identifed that way so how can I tell the difference between a universal, ballpoint, metalic, quilting etc.??? In a cleaning frenzy and need to sort and categorize so your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Sue

Mark a tomato pin cushion with a marker of the different sizes and keep it in the correct section.

I keep them in old RX bottles marked with size ect.

I've run into this problem before also. Am liking this idea but would like to follow this thread for more ideas. How do you do that?

I have used medicine containers, also. AND have used fingernail polish. Make sure you make a key if you do the latter.

Yes, I have seen many methods of keeping like kind of needles together AFTER identifing what kind of needle they are however, I need to know how to identify them in order to group them with same kind of needle. ie. ballpoint, quilting, universal. I even saw one I liked awhile back that was a book made of fabric with embroidered label for each kind of
needle on each page. But this is not what I am asking.....I need to identify each needle now that I was lazy and threw them all together. Thanks for any help. Sue

Oops. You might be out of luck this time.

I shouldn't admit this, but I pretty much use whatever needle is in the machine for whatever I'm working on, knowing that I only have the "middle" range of sizes. (I don't work with sheers or denim.)

Go to Wal-Mart and buy a magnifying glass :)

I put my needles thru a piece of paper and mark the type, size and how long used on the paper. I put them in a plastic box with a snap on lid. I don'thave to change needles as frequently as with each project if it has been small. if you use post-it notes you can stick the note on your machine to put the needle back thru the paper when you need to change needles. I hope you can understand this explaination.

You take a Sharpie and draw sections on the tomato cushion and write the needle size in the appropriate section. If you work with different types of needles you need to also mark the needle type. Then when you take the needle out of the machine, stick it into the appropriate section. If you don't remember what size the needle is the machine at any time, you need to figure out a system to note the size and type. Blue painter's tape works well coz it's easily removable.

Actually, I have seen a pincushion for sale with the markings on it.

Honestly, I am with Lee in Richmond and often use what's in the machine until it gets dull.

Thanks for all the great tips. I try to keep my needles separate so I can identify them later, but will have to work harder at it. So again, thanks.

if you do this, cut a piece of cardstock and batting to fit the bottom to keep your points sharp!

You can make a Needle case...very pretty, handy, and organized!

Me too!!! I don't really look at what needle I put in the machine either! (Bad girl, I know!)

The only way is to be able to magnify the end so you can tell what the tip of the needle looks like. I stopped using all different type of needles some time ago and only use topstitch needles. I don't sew on knits much any more so it makes no difference in my house.

I wish you luck on figuring out what is what..

I use old prescription bottles and place a piece of moleskin that I cut to size inside the lid and on the bottom to protect the points of the needles.

If you look at the line above the first post you will see a phrase that says "Thread Tools." Click on that and your options will drop down. Then click on "Subscribe to this thread."

I take a colored sharpie and mark the flat shaft end and then put it back into the case from which it came. Problem solved. I know all about it and also that it has been used some. I don't do this with needles that can no longer be used.

Sewinsue.....you might visit a store/LQS that has a good inventory of needles and look at the color bands on the various kinds of needles. Or....maybe the manufacturer's website has a color code guide that can be downloaded.

This is what I do and it works beautifully. (Great minds....)

If you took a marker and coloured the area where the size is and wipe it off, would it make it easier to see the size? I know I can't see the size on needles even with a magnifier and reading glasses on. ( I guess i could get off the computer and see if it works).

If you keep track of what you put in the machine in the first place you won't have to try and figure out what it is when you take it out.

I have a craft box from JoAnn's that's just the right size for needle packages. The orange button is for the Janome and the dark red button is for the Pfaff. I put the button in the compartment of the needle I take out and put in the machine. Any loose needle in a compartment has been used but is still good.


[ATTACH=CONFIG]311338[/ATTACH]

I too use the tomato and section off for sizes and uses. I use each 'section' for the use, as in jeans, sharps, embroidery, etc. Then I have drawn 3 horizontal lines to divide the sections into 4 or 5 parts, for the sizes.
I use this guide to tell me what kind of needle it is when I can't see the shank to read it. This is for needles I have used, and I use a plastic case similar to the one above to store the small cases of needles.
http://www.euronotions.com/pdf/Schmetz_Sales_Guide.pdf

I toss it as soon as I take it out of the machine. I'll lose/misplace/forget to sort the thing anyway.

I tape the used one to the needle case with blue painters tape. I always keep the needle case beside my machine until I change the needle. That way I know what's in the machine, and it's not hard to match the needle with the case.

How to identify used needles
 

I also use the tomato pin cushion with marked dividers. I also put a piece of masking tape on the front of the machine that says the size of the needle and another one if it is a ball point needle in case I forget to take it out when done sewing. The Schmetz(?) needles come in a box with a label so I keep all the new ones in their original box, and sometimes I do put the used ones back in their box. Will be waiting to see other suggestions. Why on earth haven't the manufacturers come up with a better system. I have a wonderful large magnifying glass but still can't read the size on the needle very well and often have to get my hubby to look at it for me.

When i put a new needle in, I will use a sticky pad and write the number on it.and put it on the spool stick. If I need another size I will take the one in the machine and place in container marked with this size. And do the next needle the same way. I use several machines so cannot always remember what size needle is in the machine. It works great for me.

Tape them to a 3 x 5 file card, sectioned off with a marker for each size needle you place on it. I hang the card on my tool board over my sewing machine right next to where I store my new needles.

I took a piece of white felt, made two columns showing all the needle brands, sizes and types, and when I finish with a needle, I "pin" it in the proper place. Then I fold the felt in half and keep it in a drawer. I also keep a post-it on my machine where I write which needle size, etc. is in the machine!!

I feel your pain. so many times over the years i have mixed up my needles. i used to know the color code better, but i had only one machine back then and not so much money for needles. i will have to get out my magnifying glass this evening and see if that helps me to read whats on a needle. That sounds like a good idea, along with learning the colors again!

After reading this thread - I will certainly try one of your suggestions - all good - think the key is to be diligent in your method.

I use my needles from R to L out of the case. I always put the used needle in the fartherest R hole to know that it's been used. If it's a new case, I turn it around backward so the flat side is showing. Ikeep the case that I used from in a small dish close to me machine so I always know which needle is in my machine. I have lots of different kinds of needles.

Wonderful idea!!! I have the same problem seeing the size of a sewing machine needle. I'm going to try it. Thanks!!!

thanks for this site. I bookmarked it.

I don't know of anyway to identify the ballpoint from any other type of needle unless it's on the shaft. I know what you're saying and have never thought about it, I think some of these ideas this board has come up with are great. You could start with some of these ideas to sort them in the future.

I use whatever I have in machine and when it gets dull it goes into the garbage in a bottle. The only time I do different I stick it back into the little box or pkg it came from to use again. If you have lumped them all together you may be out of luck. Sorry.

I put the needle back in the plastic case it came in, but turn the flat side of the shaft to the outside.

Janome needles have a color coded band on them to identify the size. I tried the tomato pincushion, but my helper kitty likes to remove them.......

I don't know how scientific this method is, but I've always been able to "feel" the difference between a ball point tip and a regular needle by gently poking my finger.

I keep my new needles in a lidless recipe box separated with tabs saying what the needles are (embroidery75, embroidery 90, quilting, topstitch etc). When I take a needle out of the box, I clip a clothespin to the tab I took it from. I have several clothespins, each marked with a Sharpie for one of my sewing machines. I only save needles that have been used VERY lightly, and they go on a tomato pincushion marked into sections for the various needles that I use. If you think about it, needles are probably the least expensive thing that you use, and it's simply not worth it to ruin fabric or a machine with a needle that's dull.