After the thread talk yesterday, I stopped at Joanne's to pick up needles... There are Schmetz quilting 90/14 and universal 90/14. I bought a pack of each... but what's the difference? On the back of the quilting one it reads "For sewing of normal material we recommend our "universal" needles."

Even the sales folks didn't know the difference, other than one is made to go through batting too? That it? Makes sense. I don't see any difference between the two except for one has that pretty green stripe and the other is plain. :roll:

Anyone know?

No, but I'd love to know! I'm getting a new machine - Janome 6600 MC for my birthday in June (I think I might have mentioned it a few times already LOL!) and I'm going to have to be more particular with that than I am with my current cheapo Toyota (which I think has had the same needle in for years, and I've no clue WHAT that is! - shame on me);

K x

All I know is the embroidery needles are made to withstand fast speeds and friction heat. They are good for machine quilting. Quilting needles are good for piecing and for use with a walking foot.

http://www.quilt.com/HowTo/MachineQuiltingHowTo.html

This explains pretty good the quilting needle. I know the universal needle is more rounded. I hope this helps. I thought till today it was the eye that was the difference. :lol:

Universal Point Needles – when you can’t find specialty quilting needles. This needle is designed for all-purpose sewing and can be used for quilting too, but its tip isn’t as sharp as a quilting or top-stitch needle's.


Read more: Choosing a Sewing Machine Needle: A Quilter's Guide to Picking the Right Needle for the Job - http://quilting.suite101.com/article...#ixzz0C5eXUJlX

Quilting Needle – for piecing and machine-quilting. This needle has a tapered point to penetrate several layers of fabric and sew evenly over seams

Read more: Choosing a Sewing Machine Needle: A Quilter's Guide to Picking the Right Needle for the Job - http://quilting.suite101.com/article...#ixzz0C5entCbV

Thanks for that definition page Jerrie - off to stock up on quilting needles!!! I thought those were used for actual machine quilting, not piecing.

kn3 - I use my needles forever too and I read where others change theirs every 2 or 3 hours. I do the same with my rotary blades, but when I change it I see why I should have done it earlier!!!

Yup I'm the same with th rotary blade too! I bought a new one ages ago but I still struggle on with the old one - why do I DO that!!!??? :?

OK, I'm going to change it RIGHT NOW! :lol:

<<<ps. thanks for the info on needles - must go and mug up! :D

You more than welcome after i found this information i learned something also about needles never throught about it until now i was saying what ever go through several layers fabric will work for me now i been educated

Thanks for the info. Before I found this board I would sew with a needle til it broke. What needless hassles I created for myself.

I do the same thing. Pretty bad when your son walks by and says "Mom, I think you need a new blade. Don't think it should be so hard to cut that." Thanks son.