Needle sizes needed
 

I'm getting ready to star practicing my straight line and FMQ quilting. There are so many sizes of needles that I don't know what I'm going to need. All I have on hand is Schmetz quilting needles and some universal needles that came with my machine. What sizes do you experienced quilters use? I thought now would be a good time to order since Joanns has cheap shipping today. I sew with a Brother PQ 1500S machine if you need to know and I use Aurafil 50wt thread

I use Mettler thread on my Bernina 1530 and normally I use either a 12 or a 14 size of Schmetz quilting needles. There is an very informative chart when I Google Schmetz needles describing what each type of needle is for. Universal needles are a general purpose needles for using on both knits and woven.

http://www.schmetzneedles.com/learni...C-brochure.pdf

I usually use Schmetz 90/14 topstitching or 80/12 sharp. I don't usually use Universal, so I can't speak for those!

Universal 80/12 for piecing. 90/14 top stitch on domestic or MR4.0/18 on longarm for quilting..

For stitch in the ditch quilting with my older (1980s pfaff) - I usually used an 80 schmetz regular or universal needle and the cotton covered coats and clark dual duty thread.

And - gasp - 15 to 20 yearrs and many washings later - the bindings are starting to fray, but otherwise the quilts are holding up well.

I try to use as small size as possible that will handle the job. ( whyy use a pitchfork when a table fork will do?)

For heavy denims, I do use the needles for jeans/ denim.

I have the same Brother machine. I use Titanium coated Topstitch needles. They stay sharper much longer when machine quilting then other needles. Aurifil 50wt is 2 ply. I use a size 18/12
Here is the guideline I use:

• 12wt. - 30wt. Threads: 100/16 Needle
• 40wt. Threads: 90/14 Needle
• 50wt. Threads: 80/12 Needle
• 60wt. Threads: 70/10 Needle
• MonoPoly (Invisible monofilament): 70/10 Needle

Here is link to good online information about thread and needles. http://www.superiorthreads.com/education/

I agree wholeheartedly with Onebyone. You most definitely want a topstitch needle. They have a larger eye and longer scarf. The scarf is the indentation in the needle that the thread lives in as the needle goes in and out of the fabric. A larger eye and longer scarf means less friction on the thread, and it won't fray and break.

I have the exact same machine, and when I had it on a frame, I used size 18 needles. If I went to a smaller size, I got lots of skipped stitches.

Hope this helps!

It usually depends on the weight of thread you're quilting with. If using .004 nylon, you could go as low as a size 70, but if you're using a 30-weight, you would need to step up to a size 80. Most machine quilting experts don't recommend using anything bigger than a size 80 because of the holes that are created with those bigger needle sizes.

The needle to use depends both on the weight of thread AND the quilt sandwich, including thickness of batting. If you start getting thread fray/breakage with any combination above, the first thing to do is change to a larger eyed (larger in general) needle. You are especially vulnerable with multidirectional (FMQ) stitching. Longarms tend to use needles designed for multidirectional use. I have yet to find multi-directional needles for domestic sewing machines (including some mid-arms).

It will also depend on the ply in addition to the weight. For example, you will need a bigger eye for a 60/3 than a 60/2 thread. I test the thread with the needle. Put the needle on a length of thread and hold it up at a 45 degree angle. Does the needle move? If it does not, go to a bigger needle. Does it fly down the length? If so, go to a smaller needle. The needle should "hop" down the thread. If it does, you have the right size.