Sewing machine needles for quilting
 

Somewhere I've read that you should always use a size 18 sewing machine needle for quilting, because the eye is larger, takes any size thread, and passes easily thru all the layers. Sounds reasonable. My question is where can you buy this size only without getting all the other various sizes of needles that you don't want. I've looked on Amazon, and can only find those with a flat shank (both sides of the needle are flat). Not sure these will work in my Janome machines which are MC 6500P and a 1600P. Nearest Janome dealer is 30 miles away. Is there somewhere else to order from that I'm forgetting about?

I've never used a needle that size to quilt. Schmetz makes a quilting needle that has a larger eye and very sharp point and this is what I normally use. On some of my smaller quilts I will use a 90/14 regular needle. Then again I seldom use any thread heavier than a 30 weight. As for the Janome shop being miles away, I am sure they would mail the needles. I wish any machine dealer was 30 miles from me since mine are all over 75 - 100 miles away.

I use a Schmetz Micro Tex 90/14, it is sharper which I like because I quilt a lot of Batiks. Otherwise I use Schmetz 90/14 and I buy them from Wawak. I also buy thread and zippers from them.

That's for a longarm, which stitches a lot faster. 16 minimum, generally 18.

On a domestic, 90/14 is the usual recommendation.

Topstitch needles have a larger eye and are used by several professional quilters for all piecing and quilting.

My vote is a Schmetz needle for quilting (on my Janome). Works for me.

It will also depend on the thread you are using. If the needle eye is too big for the thread you are using, the thread is more likely to break. Aurifil recommends an 80/12 sharp/microtex/universal/quilting or denim when using their 50 weight thread.

yep, need a larger sized needle on long arms vs domestic machines. On my Bernina's and Viking's, I tend to use whatever needle is on my machine at the time which actually is an 80 universal as I purchased a box of 100 of them a while back and normally would be using sofine 50 or aurfil 50 as my thread. On my long arm my default needle is a 4.0 which is also known as a 110 or a size 18 depending on what numbering system you are using; I generally am using soFine 50 as the thread.

9 out of 10 quilting shops use Organ needles in the machines. They sell other brands but Organ is the top of the line. Superior thread needles are Organ brand. I would suggest reading about needles at Superior website. Lots of info there. I buy them all the same size in bulk at Amazon. Not expensive. I use Schmetz universal for my Featherweight. It is the perfect length for it. Other brand of needles are not the same length and will not give a perfect stitch on the FW. Learn this in every FW class maintenance class I have taken. Each time the instructor had everyone change needles in the FW to Schmetz before even beginning to troubleshoot and repair.

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Another Schmetz needle user here. The Schmetz needle I use is the HLx5 High Speed Art. 1842, size 90/14. My machine is a BabyLock Accomplice. It is a high speed, straight stitch machine. I usually by them from a couple of different quilting sites online as that's the only places (quilting shops or Schmetz themselves) where I can find them.

This was the needle recommended to me when I purchased my machine. I was told to make sure that whatever needle I used, if I didn't use this one, to make sure that it was a high speed needle.

mkc.....my Janome 1600P stitches at 1600 per minute.

quiltsfor...thank you for the information. I've used these needles before in my Janome 1600P, don't remember why I got away from them. I've ordered 2 pkgs of the 90/14 and one package of size 16. Two weeks before I can get them...guessing Amazon is super busy!

you can find Organ and Schmetz packages of size 18 here
https://www.sewvacdirect.com/

I agree with the recommendation of using a size 16 or 18 for quilting. It has nothing to do with speed, and there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't use that size on a DSM.

I've owned both a Janome 1600 and a Brother 1500, they're essentially the same machine. I started out quilting on the Brother and found that I needed a size 16 or 18 to avoid skipped stitches. THAT'S the reason why you need to use larger needles. Smaller needles will flex and skip picking up the bobbin thread. A 16 or 18 is large and thick enough that it won't flex as you're moving either the quilt on a DSM, or the sew head on a longarm. And as someone else stated, 18 is standard for longarming. When I bought my Innova longarm, my dealer included 100 Groz-Beckert size 18 needles, which is also what all of my longarm friends use. For those who fret about the size of the holes, if you've ever quilted "by check", chances are very very good your quilt was quilted with a size 18 needle.

You can buy the Groz-Beckert needles on Superior's website, longarm supply sites, and sometimes quilt shops (not box stores) will carry them.

Thank you Peckish...I'm going back and ordering the size 18 that you recommended. Amazon has the DB x1 #18 needles for $23 and change for 100 of them. I'm tired of pulling my hair out over skipped stitched when I quilt. it's going to be a long hard winter and I plan on doing a lot of sewing in my retirement.

Linda, aren't DBx1 needles round shank? Both your machines instructions say to use a flat shank.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

I just looked at the Cross Reference Needle chart that I had downloaded a spread sheet from https://ismacs.net/needle_and_shank/...ce-charts.html They also have html rendered pages. The DBx1 has a smaller shank and is shorter both in total length and length to eye than the 15x1, which are now known as130/705. Unfortunately they do not list HLx5, but I'm certain that the dimensions are the same as a 15x1.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
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I have used the double eye needle from Schmetz to do basting. Thread the top eye, set your machine on the blind hem stitch it can manage, and the machine will only make a stitch on the swing side, not the straight stitches. At least it works that way on my vintage Berninas, and I can’t think why it would be different on other machines.

OurWorkbench.....The website gave a listing of machines the DBx1 sewing machine needle will fit. The Janome 1600P is one of them. I'll give them a try and if I don't like them I'll offer them up for sale.
As to the round or flat shank...all my machines use a needle that is round on front and flat to the rear. I've noticed needles on Amazon that were flat on both sides, and not listed for use in my machines.

Do you have a link?
Do you have a link? ETA: I still want to see these.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
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ETA - I think I may have found a site that lists DBx1 fitting for a Janome 1600P-DB which is a different machine as seen at https://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/j...db-special.php versus what I believe you have which is a Janome 1600P-QC as seen at https://www.janome.com/machines/sewing/1600p-qc/

Thanks for the advice, Pam! I do have a Bernina 830 Record. 40 years old. That machine has lived through a lot of history!

If I remember right (going off memory because I no longer have the machine) the Janome 1600 DB took round head needles, and the 1600 QC took flat head needles. I had the DB and it was kind of a pain to find the round needles.

[QUOTE=Peckish;8576177]I agree with the recommendation of using a size 16 or 18 for quilting. It has nothing to do with speed, and there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't use that size on a DSM.

I was told to use only the High Speed HLx5 needles because they were less apt to break with the high speed. But if you don't go high speed I guess you wouldn't have to worry about it. I do a lot of straight line high speed stitching and don't want to chance a piece of a shattered needle flying out to hit me in the face or eye when I'm zipping along. The high speed needles are recommended in my manual as well. Safety first!

This is what I use: HLx5 90/14 highspeed Schmetz Needles