Is it really BAD to use regular needle instead of quilting needle???
 

Hi...well I am just about to embark machine piecing my first top...nervous as everything.
Anyway....as I am reading different posts here and articles, I find I don't have "quilting" needles, just the everyday (I guess they are called "universal") needles.
So my question to all you veteran machine piecing people...is it BAD if I DON'T use a quilting needle?? I am using all cotton fabric.
All help appreciated.
Thank-you:)

No its not BAD!!! I have used universal with no problem, and can not tell the diffrence of finished product. Of course I only make quilts to keep warm and to snuggle under. LOL

No its not bad... before they had all of these special needles ... we used the ones we had and our quilts somehow lasted.
Do check the size , bigger is not better , especially when it comes to the piecing.

I use a "topstitch" needle - recommended by my quilt shop clerk. It is designed to hold two threads so I have a better chance of getting the thing threaded! I was using universal needles before that.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CDcQ8wIwAQ#

I used to get them at Wal-mart, but they haven't had them lately. Now get them at Joanns.

The link shows a size 16 needle. I get a size 12.

I have always used Universal needles. My eyes are not good enough to tell the difference in needles & don't want to bother with switching needles with regular sewing tasks.

I haven't made many, but I use Universal too :)

I buy what's on sale and change them around like crazy (except for jeans and ball point). Neither my machines nor me can tell the difference.

Well maybe I'm the dummy, I always use universal for piecing and quilting for quilting the sandwich, although have been told at the quilt shop that denim needles are good for the quilting too.

Universal isn't wrong if that's all you have, but I think there's better choices. I use a microtex (aka, sharp) instead of a universal needle. Universals have a slightly rounded tip and the microtex has a sharper, thinner point so it's perfect for piecing, appliqué, and quilting. Here's some info on how to choose and the differences between needles. http://quiltbug.com/articles/choosing-needle.htm

I use topstitch needles for piecing and machine quilting. I don't use quilting betweens when hand quilting. I use no. 10 sharps.

As a quilter for may years, I have used many different needles to piece (sew together) my quilts. I prefer the Quilting 7/11 or a universal 70/10. You will find that the smaller the needle, the smaller the hole the needle has made in the fabric and so the less damage to the cotton threads (warp and weft threads) that make up the yard goods. The seams tend to lay better because they don't have a large hole to 'bend' over and when sewing a 'scant' quarter inch seam, that will make a difference in the overall size of the finished block.

Top stitch needles are made for just what they are called, top stitching. Universal needles have a rounded tip and 'push' their way through the warp and weft threads, so they don't damage the fabric, but they do push the threads out of alignment just slightly and can cause puckering depending on the weave or thread count of the cotton or the stitch length you are using. (shorter stitch length means you are placing more thread per inch into the weave if the fabric, pushing the weave apart causing puckering, than a longer stitch length which tends to have more thread lay on top of the layers and not go into the weave)

Quilting needles have a point and 'pierce' the fabric. Although this does cause a small amount of damage to the fabric, the small size of the needle, minimizes this damage. Because they pierce the fabric instead of pushing it out of the way, the fabric does not pucker as much with the smaller stitch lengths used in quilting because you are actually cutting the threads of the fabric to make way for the 'spool' thread.

If you don't have either one of these needles in your kit yet, a NEW universal 80/12 will work just fine. and you shouldn't worry about puckering and such just yet. As for the quilting portion of the quilt, I use a Jeans 90/14 because they are sharp and strong and made to go through denim so going through the quilt top, the batting and then the backing at high speeds, does not slow this needle down. There are many different thoughts on what needle to use for the 'quilting' portion, that is your personal preference.

You will get a lot of answers to this question, all are right and all are wrong depending on whom you ask but I think everyone will agree that a universal 80/12 with 100% cotton thread like Gutterman or Arifil will be your best bet for your 1st quilt.

Good luck and post pictures of your progress and finished 1st quilt!

thanks, Jan, I didn't know there was a difference in the eye. I need that, as well. :thumbup:

I've pieced with universal, quilting, and top stitch needles and have seen little, if any difference :)

I use universal needles and see no issue with them. Looking forward to seeing your projects. No bad with using universal needles.

HI again ....just wanted to say a big "THANK-YOU" to everyone who answered my question. Looks like I will use my universal for piecing and my denim for quilting. As for posting a pic of the quilt...this may take awhile till I get it together and done..so don't look too soon LOL.
This Board is sew fantastic :) :)
And will keep watching this for any future answers or helpful hints.

Use what you have and then buy Quilting Speciality needles when you need new needles. I stock up on them when Joann's has them on sale. I like top stitching needles and use them for both. Can see no difference. You can never have too many needles. Try different kinds until you find what you like.

One thing besides needles that help with piecing...I had trouble with the needle pushing the fabric down into the hole for the needle and causing a mess. I found the best solution for me was to get a single hole plate for over my bobbin. It doesn't happen at all now and piecing is much more productive and pleasant. However, I didn't remember to change the plate when I wanted to zig-zag and you guesses it....I broke a needle. The price of learning but the two different plates are well worth it for me. Piecing is the part of quilting that I enjoy the most. So fun to see the pattern emerge as the pieces go together. Have fun and remember....perfection is a process so don't be discouraged when seams don't match or points disappear into the seam. You'll figure out how to do it so that it pleases YOU. Welcome to the wonderful world of quilting. Make it your own.

I use regular sharps for piecing and quilting.

If you notice that you're getting skipped stitches when using a universal needle on wovens, switch to a sharp and your skipping will almost always go away.

Universal needles were supposed to be the "easier" way to sew both knits and wovens without having to keep sharps and ball points. In practice, they don't sew wovens as well as sharps and they don't sew knits as well as ball points. Even sharps sew knits better than universals. :)

I have seen people use all different kinds of needles, quilting, universal, topstitch, go ahead I won't tell the quilt police LOL!!!

Wow! I didn't know there was such a thing as a quilting needle! I just use universal.

I use #14 sharps.

Ghostrider, thanks for the excellent link!

Me either!! I was beginning to think I was the only one that did not know this.

I use size 12 or 14 universal needles for piecing and size 16 for quilting (I only stitch I the ditch or cross hatch.) For hand quilting, I use embroidery crewel needles.

@ GailG, I thought I was the only one who didn't use quilting needles for hand quilting!!

I find they all work about the same even though THEY tell us there is a significant difference. I see it as a marketing ploy.

I use universal needles for piecing and mostly use embroidery needles for quilting, as I normally use embroidery thread for quilting.

I have also started using the microtex sharp needles.... My machine is much quieter :) However if I don't have them on hand, I will use universal cause I just gotta sew!

I didn't know there were special needles for machine quilting. I always used universal needles. So does that mean I should also change my sewing thread? I always used cotton sewing thread on my machine.

The quilting needle is used for machine quilting. A regular needle is fine for piecing.

I mainly use the Universal needle too (usually size 12 or 14). But sometimes when doing the actual quilting, I might switch to a quilting needle (size 14) if I notice stitching problems.

Schmetz says quilting needles are best for piecing.

http://www.euronotions.com/pdf/Schmetz_Sales_Guide.pdf

thanks ghost rider for the link to that wonderful needle info I bookmarked it to always have it as I know the right needle for the right thread and or project does make a big difference

i pretty much never use a needle that says'''quilting needle'

i use sharps most of the time, universals some of the time, metalic needle when using metalics, and denim needles when sewing anything really heavy-
i'm sure i probably have some quilting needles- but only because people buy them for me on occassion- i prefer sharps
i have a friend who always uses top-stitch needles- they are what she likes-
use the needle that works with the thread you are using- and gives you the results you want-
if you visit Superior Threads they have charts you can print off the tell you all the different threads, what needle to use with each and what projects they are best for- it's a good resource.

WOW!!!! Thank-you ckcowl, ghostrider and Scissor Queen for the links and info to the links regarding needles.

This is like the question.."Do you wash material before you piece?". Everybody has their way of doing things.
I do know that the thread does matter (for a lot of people) on what type of machine you have.
Thanks again to all who have responded to my question. I have learned sew much regarding needles and thread.
Also, thank-you Dolphyngyrl (sp) for not telling the Quilting Police on me.
As I said before...well keep checking back on the responses to my question.
People on here are WONDERFUL :)

There is no "bad" needle. Use what works for you. I never buy "quilting" needles just because they're more expensive AND fewer in a pack than my universal needles. Universal works great when you're using regular sewing thread. If, when you're machine quilting, you want to use a thicker thread, like King Tut, or Sulky, you should change to the needle size that's recommended by that manufacturer, because you'll need a thicker needle with a bigger eye.
Relax. It's only fabric. It won't bite you, and it won't tell anyone if you let a naughty word out, or two. :)

If you have Universal needles by all means use them.
The first 20 years I was making tops that's all I used.
When you run out buy Sharps or Topstitch in size 12 - they have pointed ends rather than a round end (Universals).

You use Quilting needles for quilting the finished top (or, at least I do)...I use regular (universal) needles in size 14 for piecing.
And, no one knows what needle you used to make a quilt, even the quilting part. Quilting needles are usually stronger to go through multi layers of fabrics.
Marge

Me toooooo