...for quilt piecing, medium weight calico. For 'free motion quilting' do you use a general needle or always a quilting needle.
Do you match the needle to the fabric or to the thread ?????
What brand do you prefer, Organ, Schmitz....whatever..............

I was wondering the same thing earlier today because I need to buy some new needles. I ended up buying some Organ needles from an ebay seller, size 75/11. I found the following chart that answered a lot of my questions. Hope it helps.

http://www.sewing.org/files/guidelin...dle_charts.pdf

Schmetz Universal 80/12 for piecing.
Schmetz Quilting 80/12 for FMQ if I'm using cotton thread, which I do mostly.

Jan in VA

I buy both Schmetz and Organ needles. I use the quilting needle for piecing, usually 80/12 and topstitch needles, 90/14 usually, for quilting.

Thanks so much for the link to the charts! :thumbup:

I only buy Topstitch needlea. They have a larger eye and thread wont shred.

Now thats a thought !!! :thumbup:

ditto

If you are using 50 or 60 wt thread, I'd say 75/11 needle. I only use 70 needles on very fine fabric, with very fine thread.

Oh, and you have to match the needle to the thread, b/c the thread goes through the needle. But then you also have to match the thread to the fabric to some degree, because if the thread is too thick for the fabric, you get slanted stitches. I like Superior needles, which are made by Organ.