What a difference a needle makes.
 

Woke up close to 3:00 am couldn't go back to sleep, so off to my sewing room. I've made 35 pillows for Christmas and 42 is my goal. I'm just about there but getting anxious. Our Christmas party is the 1st week end of Dec. I'm feeling the crunch about now. I've been recycling denim jeans into cathedral pillows and my sewing machine needle just couldn't do any more. I tried several new needles but couldn't get them to work. Mostly broken thread. I was lucky in finding a lone needle in my needle drawer, it was out of it's package but looked very much like the one I had been using. Oh how delightful to have it sewing thru that denim!

I've got to learn more about needles. How do you store and use your needles? How do you know what works for whatever project you are working on?

I'm going back to bed. Maybe I can get another hours sleep now. (grin)

Superior threads has lots of info:
http://www.superiorthreads.com/education/
Click the 'needles' hotspot.
Growing up, we had one size & type needle, and only changed it if it broke. I agree that the right needle can make all the difference!

If you buy Schmetz needles, you can download their "color card" that tells you how each needle is colored for its usage.
Here's their website:
http://www.schmetzneedles.com/

Go about 3/4 down the page.

I'm going to try to attach a copy here.
Good question, as I didn't really know the answer myself, until I found this!

**Edited to try to put image in here too**

Thanks for downloading that color chart, Leta. I can never remember what the colors on the Schmetz needles mean, now I don't have to worry about it :thumbup:

Rob

thanks for info!

Do you know when Schmetz started color coding their needles? I have many older ones that are "plain" -

Are you sure they're not Universal needles? Those aren't colored. They come in regular & cheater ("quick thread").

Yes, i am sure. Some of them are still in the original packaging.

I just started using needles from Superior Thread that are titanium coated. They work beautifully and are said to last much longer. Anyone else have experience with them? Do you think they're worth the extra $?

Thanks for the color chart...now to try and save it!! I also use titanium needles. They seem to last longer. I also have some Schmetz from years ago that are plain. The Singer needles were all that were available to me 50 years ago are still hanging around my sewing room! I must have only changed needles when they broke to have so many. I do better now!

I printed that color chart, and for sure will put it in my cabinet drawer! Thanks for the clear and concise reference:)

Buy yourself a metal tin from a second hand store to store needles in, but in their package so you will know brand, size, etc. Organ brand needles are good to have around, as are Superior. Packages don't take up much room in that tin and you should always have a fresh one ready and handy.

Several questions have popped up in this discussion. I have the Schmetz chart in a drawer where I store my needles. I also have all of the information from Superior Threads. Uncle Bob is very knowledgeable. I store my needles in a drawer that I equipped with little compartments from a kitchen items. I keep them separated into compartments. I keep a red tomato pin cushion on my sewing table that I marked with a Sharpie with size numbers. It has one or two of the most used sizes. I always know what needle is in my machine because I put a special pin in its place on the tomato. I like the titanium needles. I only throw away a needle if it breaks or if it gets a burr because I stitched over a pin (never on purpose!). I do think using the proper needle is important.

It is amazing how often we are having a 'problem' with our stitches and finally decide to change the needle - PROBLEM GONE! The easiest and cheapest of fixes and yet, we don't do it often enough. I am always telling myself that I will become one of those folks who automatically change the needle with a new project, and then I don't do it. Machine works harder, stitches go funny and then I remember to change it. And suddenly things are great again. How old do I have to be before I learn......

Thank you for this information. I too never know which needle to use.

Wow Leta, thanks, this will be very helpful!

Thanks! I printed one to put by my needle display at the store.

Yes I think the titanium needles do last much longer. I use the Topstitch needles size 12-14 from Superior threads for all my piecing when quilting.

Wow Leta, awesome information. Thanks for sharing.

When I had a leaky shower I was moaning about needing a plumber and a friend of mind said just try changing the shower head. I did and it worked. Like you said DO THE EASIEST THING FIRST. So I try to remember that saying whenever anything doesn't work right and generally things get fixed.

Schmetz started color coding their needles at a year or so ago. I have lots of packages of the older non-coded needles but I keep them in their packages. You actually can read the size on the needle with a very very very good magnifier - honest - but it still doesn't help me. I've been using 70/10 and 75/11 Jeans, Sharps and Microtex needles - so much better than the universals and the smaller needle sizes really do sew much better.

Sandy in Mooresville, NC

What a delight to read your responses. Thank you all for the info (which I certainly should know by now). The color chart is great and the organization with the tomato pin cushion is a bonus. My needle drawer isn't much bigger than a tin and works great but I like the sound of having a tin with needles inside. Such creative and knowledgeable folks you are. No wonder I live here (quiltingboard). A great place to find info and friendly voices!

I have some of those too, bear. I don't know when they started color coding them.

Titanium coated Superior needles by Organ are all I use. Needles are the least inexpensive items we buy for quilting so I buy what I think are the best.