Do you use a different needle for piecing as opposed to when you fmq? What are you favorite brands of needles? Size? Does anyone have a good source for purchasing them at a good price? JoAnn's seems to carry only Singer and Schmetz and I was told in the past that the Universal needles aren't the best ones to use. I have bought Klasse titanium needles a couple of times (which I LOVE) but they are so expensive!

Thoughts and ideas would be very welcome!

I use a size 14 for piecing and fmg unless I use a heavier thread then I use a needle with a larger eye. I use Singer needles with my 401A and both Schmetz and Universal with my Brother. I don't see any difference in the Schmetz and Universal. I also love the Klasse but only buy them when I find them on sale.

I usually use the ones the machine calls for. I'm just one of those who checks the books for everything.

I use Organ Titanium Topstitch needles for piecing and fmq. I buy them at Superior when they are on sale. Superior website has all the info you need about what size needle for what size thread you use.

I use Klasse, Schmetz and Organ 75/11 or 80/12 for piecing. I use 80/12 and 90/14 quilting or top stitch needles for the quilting. My local sewing machine dealer always has their Schmetz needles buy 1 get 1 and when I order from Nancy's Notions and Klasse are on sale I buy them. But I always get 1 80/12 Klasse universal needle with every order I get from Nancy's Notions.

I use Oregon needles, which is what came with my Janome when it was new. I never change sizes for FMQ.

I can't remember offhand what size I bought, though. I never change needle size, whatever size it is that I bought seems to work fine for everything I need it to do!

I buy them by the 100 from Amazon; it costs around 12 bucks for a box of ten packs of ten needles.

Whoops, I mean "Organ", not "Oregon"! (I was just there on vacation so my fingers are stuck typing "Oregon") I just looked my past order up on Amazon, I bought the 80/12 size and they were $12.80 with free shipping.

I like Schmetz sharp needles. I usually use an 80 for piecing. I'd like to use that for FMQ too as it's smaller but my machine seems to like a 90 for FMQ. I get them at the quilt shops so can't help with the cheaper question.

I use Schmetz Sharp (not Universal) needles, because that's what JoAnn's carries, and I purchase them when they are on sale or I have a coupon. I use them in my Berninas and my Singer FWs and have not had any problems with them. I use 70/10 or 80/12 needles for piecing, depending on whether I am using my Prescencia 60/3 or Gutterman 50/3 thread. For FMQ, I use 80/12 unless I am using a thicker thread; then I go to a 90/14.

I have some Superior 80/12 needles that were in a goodie bag, but haven't used them yet. I'm not one of those who changes their needle at the beginning of each new project, so I get a lot of use out of my needles.

I also use the 70/10 needles when I am paper-piecing, using 20 stitches to the inch, and I use 60/8 needles when I am machine applique-ing with monofilament thread.

I generally use 80/12s for piecing and for quilting unless I use a thicker thread for quilting, then I bump the needle size. My favorite type is the topstitch. I just ordered some from Superior Threads when they had a sale.