Needed: Sewing machine needle advice
 

I need to change the needle in my sewing machine and all I have are 90/14 for machine quilting. I normally use 80/12 for piecing. I was wondering if I could use the 90/14 sizes for piecing?

Take care,
Mary

Give it a try and see how it looks to you.
I normally use a size 11 needle.

Size 14 and larger if I'm hemming jeans, etc.

Most of the time I've got 90/14 in mine. I haven't had any problems with it.

Of course you can!

I keep the same needle in my machine for piecing and quilting. there may be larger holes from the 90/14, but those holes disappear when the item is washed. i don't use batiks, though, so that might make a difference.

Oh my goodness! I'm fairly new to quilting and before that a very infrequent machine stitcher. I've been using 90/14's for everything...piecing, quilting, clothing alterations...how do you determine what size needle you should be using for various projects/fabrics? I know there are no police, but I'd like to know what the general needle guidelines are. Can you help, please? (of course you can...this board helps with EVERYTHING!)

The weight and ply of your thread determines the needle size. It took me a long time to understand needle and thread sizes do make a difference.

I use all purpose thread mostly and 100% cotton fabric...but some fabric has a looser weave than others. I don't even know what the numbers of the needle sizes mean. I think the machine came with 90/14 so that's what I always buy.

I use a size 10. An older quilter told me once a 14 leaves to big of a hole for piecing.

Using a needle incompatible with your thread can cause sewing issues. I keep a supply of all needle sizes so they are "free" when I need to change the needles.