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Selecting the Proper Sewing Needles

Using the proper needle -- whether you are sewing by hand or with a machine -- makes the difference between a professional-looking finished project and a disaster. Needles are available with sharp, fine or ballpoint tips, and in various sizes, to tackle any type of sewing project. Some needles are best suited for quilting; others are designed to prevent damage to sheer or delicate fabrics, such as silk. The larger the number on the needle package, the larger the needle will be and the heaver the weight of the fabrics for which it is designed.

Instructions

- 1
  Check the bolt of fabric to verify its weight and the material from which it is made. The information is found on the end of the bolt, typically printed on a sticker.
- 2
  Pick a needle size based on fabric weight. Heavy fabrics require use of a larger needle. Vinyl, for example, typically requires a 100/16 needle.
- 3
  Locate a needle in the size and tip required for your project. For example, needles are available with regular sharp points for woven fabrics, ball points for delicate or easily frayed fabrics and wedge points for leather. Stiffer fabrics require needles with sharper points. More delicate or easily damaged fabrics dictate the use of a needle with a more rounded point.
- 4
  Compare the eye of the needle with the thread you will be using. The thread should pass easily through the eye. Needles have differently sized eyes for various sewing projects. The eye of the needle is typically the largest part of the needle that must pass through the fabric. A large eye could create undesirably large holes in the seam; do not select a needle with an eye larger than needed for your thread.

Sewing