Sewing machine needle question
 

If I am using the proper size and style of needle for my project -

Does it matter what brand of needle I am using? Singer, Schmetz, or Organ? (There are probably other brands - those are the ones I am aware of)

More specifically - do particular machines prefer a given brand of needle?

Also - the machines seem to have changed somewhat over the years - so would a needle that fit a machine made in 1930 fit a machine made in 2010? Even if the manual says that the "style" is the same?

Don't think the brands matter EXCEPT for Singer. Singer machines want Singer needles.

I can only partially answer your questions, but I'll give it a shot.

I don't think that in general specific brands matter unless you have a machine that is particularly fussy. I have several Janomes and a Juki, and I've never had an issue with using any of the brands you mentioned. My Juki came with Organ needles and my Janomes came with Janome branded needles which I'm sure are made for them by one of the brands. I generally buy Schmetz because it's readily available locally.

I haven't noticed that one brand holds up better than another.

My mom had a white machine that must have been from the 40s, and it's needle was threaded differently from how my current machines are threaded. I can't remember if it was side to side or back to front, but definitely different. I have no idea what kind of needles it used.

Hope this helps!

I have a brother 1500s and it seems pretty picky about needles. I tried a superior titanium needle in it, and while it felt much smoother, it caused thread breakage problems. So, for the brother, I stick with organ and it's happy. My old bernina 930 record seems happy with whatever is in reach as long as it's appropriate for the thread.

It used to be that they were all pretty much the same thing. Singer, as a company, has gotten sloppy. The Singer needles are not always consistent. I wouldn't use them, even in a Singer. I personally just use Schmetz or Bernina, which both have the 130 705H configuration. All brands of domestic sewing machines that we service, get a Schmetz needle to sew off with. That includes everything from a treadle to the big embroidery machines. The only exception is the Singer slant needle and some sergers.

I always use Singer needles in my 401A and universal for my Brother. That is what my service people have told me to do.

I have a Bernina 1530 and I use Schmetz needles. I do have a variety of types so I use the correct needle for what I am doing. (ex:use metallic needle with metallic thread)

I only have Janome machines so I use either Janome needles or Organ needles. I buy 100 needles at a time off J hittle Co. and they are really inexpensive. Never had a problem

My daughter's singer machine accepts schmetz needles just fine. I use schmetz but I recently switched to organ. For knits (clothes) i use singer because it's always worked best for me.

I have the Brother 1500 and only use Organ Titanium coated needles. I use them in all my machines, Bernina, Janome, and Singer.

My Elna only uses Schmertz needles. She intensely dislikes Singer needles. My slant needle Singer 301s both aren't fussy. Right now they are using an off brand I bought on ebay at $9.99 for 100 needles. The vintage Montgomery Wards machines don't care either. The Necchi has sewn with these "Orange' brand needles and did a nice job FMQ. So, of all my machines I've used, only the Elna is fussy.

The only time I have had a machine that was fussy about needles is my 306W , It takes a different size( Length ) needle . I am getting concerned that they are getting hard to come by.

OAnnette, which needles do you recommend for the slant shank machines? I have a Singer 301a and I plan to put it on my frame. Thank you, Gina

Singer makes one specifically for slant needles. Don't have the package with me. But I believe the package specifically says it's for slant needles.

Did you get my PM about the track?

Annette, I've never heard of a slant needle. What's the difference? I use Organ needles in all of my machines that use a 15x1 including my 301s and 404. Never had a problem. I don't use Schmetz any more because I've found the quality lacking since they moved production to India, and compared to what I can buy Organ for, more expensive.

Cari

I read "somewhere" - that of the three brands I mentioned - and same 15x1 system - that the

Singer needles were the longest, and the Organ needles were the shortest. Or maybe I have it turned around.

I wasn't aware that the slant foot machines took special needles. I've looked on Sew Classic and she doesn't have "special" needles for the slant foot machines.

I have 6 221 Featherweights dating from the 1930s to the 1960s, the first machine I ever bought, a 1971 Singer, and a Singer treadle machine from the 1930s, and I use Schmetz needles in all of them. The store you bought your machine from may tell you to use a particular brand of needle, but they probably sell them, too. I have two Berninas and have used Schmetz, Bernina, Organ and Superior Thread needles in them, and they all did fine. I bought a 301 for my daughter, showed her how to oil and lube it, gave her a new Schmetz needle, and off she sewed.

IMHO, what is important is using the correct needle and thread with the correct fabric. I use ball point needles for knits and fleece, and and I use sharps for natural fibers (cotton, wool, linen, etc.). I use 60/8 needles with polyester thread; 70/10 and 80/12 needles with 50/3 and 60/3 threads; and 90/14 for heavier fabrics (like denim), for quilting and for purse/craft construction.

I use Schmetz in my Bernina and Groz Beckert in my LA. When I bought my Bernina (15 years ago) my dealer told me to never use Singer needles. She said they are just a smidge too long and over time will damage my hook assembly so I just always use Schmetz.

I have used organ, schmetz, klasse, and superior(which are also needles manufactured by organ) in my brothers and babylock with no issues

My mom had a white machine that must have been from the 40s, and it's needle was threaded differently from how my current machines are threaded. I can't remember if it was side to side or back to front, but definitely different. I have no idea what kind of needles it used.

Hope this helps![/QUOTE]

My 301A threads from side to side. I use Schmetz, they are just inserted with the flat side in a different position. I have been using Schmetz since the 70's. They were recommended by my Viking dealer. I think the important thing is to change your needle more often, because they can become dull.

Superior needles are Organ needles. Janome needles are also Organ needles. The Titanium do last longer. I have JANOME MACHINES and Babylock sergers. I use Organ in all of them with no problems. I have also used Schmetz in the Janome machines with no problem. Normally, thread breakage is a NON match of the needle to the thread you are using. Other breakage can be tension, hang up of thread or just poor thread. I had a friend that was using serger thread for her quilt and was wondering why her thread was breaking. Serger thread is NOT meant for sewing. Not enough plys to make it strong for sewing use. Go to Superior Thread site and see if the DVD called Threadology is still free. It is a great video that tells you all about needles, thread and machine tension.

I was told by my service man to use only Singer needles in Singer machines as they are a mm. shorter than Schmetz and the Schmetz needle might damage the bobbin carriage or something else underneath the needle.

I use Schmetz for all my DSM machines: Singer, Brother, FW, Bernina, treadle. My Tiara II takes a special needle for long arm machines.

I have Pfaff, Brother, Singer, and Babylock machines. None of them seem to care what brand needle I use. I buy mostly schmetz because they are readily available locally. LyndaOH mentioned her mother's White threading differently. So does my antique Singer, but it's only because the needle is inserted differently. My DDIL was having a problem with needles in her new Singer, but it was because she was inserting the needle wrong. Be sure you follow your machine's instructions for which direction the flat side of the needle goes on.

My Singer machines are very happy with Schmetz and Organ needles. I sew with real antique Singers, most are treadles and hand crank machines. My favorites are Singer 115 and 66-1, 101 years old. I have newer Pfaffs and a 23 year old Bernina 1031, they like the needles I use.
Sharon

As to older machines - before the advent of Japanese made machines after WW2 - most US manufactures used different needles in their machines. In the earlier 1900's, BOYE sold 15 different styles of needles, and they were not interchangeable between machines of different Mfg. Over time, because of the popularity of Singer, a few other companies adopted the same needle size. By the 50's - it was hard to find a machine that did not take the "Singer" style needle. Same with attachments, Singer was almost the only US manufacturer that used side clamp feet - and now very few domestic machines use any other method.

I've found Organ works well in my vintage machines (Post WWII Japanese - mostly badged as Kenmore). I'd heard really good things about Superior needles but since they are also Organ I just stick with them. I don't have any Singer machines so don't know about them.

As to the titanium needles - worth every penny! They last and last.

I buy Schmetz Microtex 70 needles for all my piecing, in packs of 100 and change needles every time I empty a bobbin (I have a Bernina 780 which uses bobbins equivalent to M size bobbins). But I also love the Schmetz quiltng needles in my quilting machine.

I have several vintage singers including a 301 and a 401 and several mechanical Brothers. I use all kinds of needles in all of them and I've never had a problem. When I did use a service person (several over the years before I learned to service them myself- thank you all the helpers on this board) not one ever mentioned a kind of needle. Just to be sure to put it in right and thread the right way.

I have a Singer Genie & it seems to do fine with Dritz needles as well. About the only time I am able to get Singer needles is on the rare occasion I head down to the Singer Service Center 50 minutes from where I live. Not worth it. The Dritz needles work fine. I'm always happy with the results for both piecing & FMQ.