needle sizes???
 

Am I the only person that cannot see the size on my machine needles? I just got new glasses (and I'm not exactly blind!) and even with a magnifying glass and an Ott light, I just can't seem to make out the needle size. Does anyone have a trick for this?

I find it almost impossible to read the imprint on the needles - you need to hold the needle and the magnifying 'just so' in a strong light to 'just' make out what it says.

My trick - I have an old 'tomato' pincushion and on each segment of the tomato I wrote in permanent marker the sizes of the needles I use. When I take one needle out of the machine I put it into the pincushion in the appropriate segment; and I put a flowerhead pin as a place marker in the segment from which I took the needle that is currently in the machine. (Gosh i hope that makes sense). I needed a system since I switch needles at least once a day - I have made a commitment to practice my FMQ for at least 15 minutes every day - and I use a different needle for that than I do for piecing.

I learn something new everyday, I had no idea they were printed on the needle

it is best when you are getting a new needle out of the package write down the size/type (i use a piece of masking tape- and place it right on the side of my machine- so if i'm going to change needles for something- i know exactly what i have in- then if it has only been
little used
i put it back into it's correct package. the packages are generally well marked- i've never tried to see the size on a needle- but i have noticed that some are (color coded) so that is another way to identify your needle.

hmmm, I just bought some today - green for quilting needles, but there's 2 different sizes in the package and way too small writing for me....I definitely need some kind of system too

And the Schmetz needles packaging has changed. Remember when they had a little magnifying area just over the section of the needle where the size was written? Drives me crazy; put that one on my list "what annoys you most in quilting" list.

Jan in VA

Someone makes a gizmo that you attach to your machine where you can indicate the size needle you are using. Just remember to change it when you change needles.
I like the idea of marking the pincushion.

I hate tomato pincushions. Marking one didn't help any either. It might tell me what's in the pincushion but it won't tell me which needle is new or used or which one is in the machine. So I got a multi compartment craft box at JoAnn's that's just the right size to hold needle packages. If a needle is still in the package, it's new. If the needle is out of the package, it's used but still good. I put a big orange button in the compartment for the needle that's in the Janome and a burgundy button in the compartment for the needle that's in the Pfaff. If the burgundy button is in an empty compartment then I know the needle that's in the Pfaff came from the package that's in the little storage compartment with the feet.

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Too much hassle for me over needles. I buy needles in bulk so if I change a needle, I usually toss it because
1. I'll forget what it is.
2. I"ll forget what my system is and what needle is suppose to go where.
3. I'm not organized enough to care.

This is what I use and I just labeled the outside in large numbers the size and type of needle, way easier to use

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Singer-Mac...nizer/19398744

Awesome, thank you so mcuh.

I think I recall somebody said to go over the writing on the needle with a sharpie pen and it would make is easier to read. I haven't tried it yet.........

Thanks for all your replies. I think I like the tomato idea best. Then I'll know what size it is and that it is used. :-)

I work for the importer of SCHMETZ Household Needles into the North American Market. We have asked SCHMETZ to re-introduce the little magnifying area on the top section of the plastic cover. We're not sure why it was ever discontinued. Unfortunately I don't have any time table as to if, and when, they may reintroduce this feature.

I wish there was a gauge - like for knitting needles - that I could stick a needle in - and then I could determine what size the needle is.

I can't read that fine print either. About all I can tell is if I have a spike (like a denim needle) or a finer one.

I like the color coded ones so if they aren't I use fingernail polish & create my own. Heck you can even get green fingernail polish now.

I've done this with other items with embossed/ engraved writing, it works well. The trick is not to press hard so you don't get ink in the impressions.

Nope, you're NOT the only one. Lately I find that I reach into my sewing box often for my ... magnifying glass. It came in an accessory box for one of my used machines and honestly, I simply cannot read that fine print without it. In fact, sometimes I can't read it with it!

thank you.....Schmetz is my all time fave!

remember the singer with the COLORED band?
get some cheap $1.00 nail polish and paint the shaft! USe a clear coat too

OR use a different color sharpie and once dry, put clear tape over it...but this way you can only do a tiny band below the shaft(like the singers) so it will fit properly!

Here's what I do; when I take a needle out of the package I mark it with a colored sharpie and then I also mark the flat side of the needle. When I take the needle back out of the machine; I know where it goes and this also shows that it has been used to some degree too. If I think it's too bad to use again I throw it away.