Denim and jeans are almost interchangeable but what is denim exactly? It is made for tough fabrics like denim so it should be a perfect fit for when you are sewing with duck cloth. I just make sure to have at least a size 90/14 universal needle (100/16 for thicker denim) and all is well. The smaller the needle number, the finer the needle. Finest Quality Hand Sewing Needles jjneedles.com | sales@jjneedles.com | +44 (0) 1527 830941 About this Needle Guide At John James Needles, we have history dating back to the very start of needle manufacture in the UK and we have a needle for every needlecraft discipline. Chenille needles in sizes 18 to 22 are good because they are both sharp and strong. A heavy-duty needle starting with No. The sewing life of a needle is 8 hours. Using a thread that is too large for the needle can cause the thread to break. Use on heavy, tightly woven fabric, like denim, canvas, and duck. Use Heavier Sewing Needles. If the denim is medium to heavyweight, you should opt for using Jeans Needles. 3. I find denim pretty easy to work with, actually. But I don’t use them. Denim is pretty heavy-duty fabric, so it’s worth it to use sturdier sewing machine needles. So, when choosing a needle for hand sewing, think about the type of fabric (stable woven or stretchy knit) to determine if you will use a Sharp or Ballpoint needle. You’ll select the needle type by what kind of fabric you are sewing on ... Denim. Topstitching needles have a lot of the same qualities as denim … Really, this is the single most important thing to remember when you’re sewing denim. General Sewing. So a size 12 hand needle is smaller than a size 5 hand needle. So let’s move on. I suggest a 100/16 denim needle, but any heavier needle should work fine. You can use regular sewing thread in the bobbin, as there is no need for the topstitching thread with this technique. NOTE: This is the opposite of machine needles! They are sized from 1 to 12. What Sewing Machine Needle For Jeans? Check out this post showing you some basic hand sewing stitches. What Kind of Sewing Machine For Jeans? The Girl Scouts have a guide of their own as well. 4. A handy little accessory for threading those sewing machines that do not have an automatic needle thread, but especially made for threading hand sewing needles is a needle threader. Anatomy of a Sewing Machine Needle. One recommendation is the 100/16 jeans needle. It’s strong, durable, doesn’t snag, is easy to cut, and it’s really satisfying to sew. 16 or even the largest size universal needle you get) may be needed for sewing through heavy-weight fabrics. Choose a needle that's a size 4 or larger. Hand quilting, at its core, means sewing running stitches through your quilt sandwich (the quilt top, batting, and backing fabric) with a needle in your hand. Its eye also accommodates denim thread, being thicker than standard sewing … This needle type is generally used for a sewing machine and for knit fabric sewing projects. Below are some things to keep in mind about needles. Try a topstitching needle. The specific size you use should be a good fit for the thread you are using. I simply make a point to have in any event a size 90/14 all-inclusive needle (100/16 for thicker denim) and it works for me. Okay, so you don’t have a denim needle on hand and you want to sew right now? 7. I used a 100/16. It turns out, it’s a mere cotton, but weaved in such a pattern as to form an extremely sturdy fabric , … You’ll need scissors, pins, a removable fabric marker and the right style/size of sewing machine needle (as mentioned above). Use a heavy duty needle and suitable thread. They are color-coded for the user’s ease. Sharps These needles are the most popular needle for general sewing. It’s so much faster. However, there are times when hand sewing is necessary. Selecting the right needle for embroidery is important basically, select the needle that will accommodate the fabric and thread you wish to use for the project. Glazed Finished Hand Sewing Thread. These needles can stitch through many layers without breaking. Regardless of whether you are using a hand or machine needle, they all have some common ground… starting with the point: Ball point – used for knit fabrics. The important fact to remember when choosing a needle is that a lower number indicates a thicker, longer needle within its category. This is the sewing machine needle size, and most sewing machine needles indicate the needle size in both European and American sizing. Sharps are medium length needles and the most commonly used hand sewing needles. Tips for Sewing Uniform Patches: For a guide on where to position the patches for Boy Scouts, visit the Boy Scouts interactive guide on uniforms. Pick out a needle that's about a size 4 so that it will work well with thicker fabrics like denim, upholstery, or canvas. Good quality needles have a smoothly machined eye to minimise thread shredding. If you decide to buy only one type of needle, it should be Sharps. :-) I may go to the fabric store and pick up a book on sewing, but it seems like there is … There are many types of needle available, the type of needle depends upon what kind of hand embroidery you are planning to do. Use a denim needle. It’s very important to use the appropriate needle. Download Free Needle Guide here. They won’t necessarily compromise your sewing (they tend to do well on light to medium wovens and knits), however they won’t perform as well as a dedicated needle type for the fabric you’re sewing. My question is, what kind of needle is best...I need a sharp one with an eye big enough for the yarn to go through. A Singer needle suffers less breakage, minimal point damage, reflects heat away and lasts five times longer than regular sewing needles. Use the right needle. When looking at needles, you will see two numbers referenced on the needle. The larger eye on this needle accomodates for the heavier weight top stitching threads. The process takes around 30 minutes, and if you use the right stitch, your jeans will withstand wear and tear for many washes. Use a universal point needle if you are sewing with woven and knit fabric as it can slip through fabric waves. Denim Needles have a sharp point and strong shaft. So, I use a sharp needle (usually Jeans/Denim) when I … At Sew4Home, we do everything possible using a sewing machine. The point I’m making is that a Denim Needle is the optimal needle for sewing with denim. 90/14 (or a jeans needle which is usually No. Or if it's silly for me to be stitching fleece with yarn, please tell me that. Think about the weight or thickness of the fabric (delicate like silk, medium weight like quilting cotton, or tough like denim) to choose your needle size. The easiest and quickest method for hemming jeans is to use a standard sewing machine. Choosing a Needle and Thread . Use a larger sewing needle on your machine – one that is made for heavy-weight fabrics, I have found that a 90/14 works well. As the numbers increase, the needles get thicker. When sewing with duck cloth, you are going to need a tough needle. However, on hand needles, the larger the number means the SMALLER the needle. 1. Eye - The hole in which the thread slides through. Made of 100% cotton and coated a unique glaze finish that helps reduce fraying, tangling, breakage and knotting. The eye size varies according to the intended thread type. The needle is also not that sharp enough to destroy delicate knit fabrics. At the seams of your jeans, you will be sewing through either 6 or 9 layers of denim. Common Features of Hand Sewing Needles and Machine Sewing Needles. Really, this one is kind of obvious. The most common needles for hand sewing are sharp-point, commonly called "sharps" or "regular needles." In that time, the point will become … 4. Needles ought to be coordinated to the thickness of the texture you are sewing. To finish off this article, lets get geeky and look at the various parts of the sewing machine needle. Carpet sharps, used for sewing through carpets and rugs, are sized from 16 to 18. Many manufacturers have needles labeled specifically for denim. A hand sewing needle has … Needles come in all different sizes depending on which type of fabric they're intended for. Denim is a strong and thick fabric, so you should select a strong and thick needle. I know that seems obvious, but it’s also kind of awesome, and kind of a big job for you and your little needle friend. However, if you're sewing with denim then you would need a "denim needle" or a universal 90/14 to a 100/16. The sewing machine needle is probably the most important part of the sewing machine. 10 Tips for sewing denim. Jeans/Denim Needles: Jeans/Denim Needles are fantastic for hemming because they exhibit strong and sharp qualities. Hand Quilting Cotton Sewing Thread is great to use when you hand sew your binding on your quilt. Needle Threader An important handy tool that will protect the fingers from needle pricks during hand sewing is a thimble - a must have little tool. To learn more about sewing with duck cloth just continue to read our article. European needles are measured 60 - 110, and American 8 - 18, so you will often see needles listed is sizes (70/10, 80,/12, 90/14, etc.) What needle to use for hand embroidery? Hand Sewing Needle Guide 22.110 Page2 10/05 NeedleType Description Usage Sizes Easy-orSelf-Threading All-purpose,sharpsewing needlewithaslottedtop insteadofastandardeye She used one pair of size 50 men’s jeans in black, a dark floral pair, and two pairs of purple stretch denim. Hand needles are a much simpler design. This can put a lot of stress on a Universal Needle. Try on the jeans and determine the desired finished length and pin it in place. Medium needle sizes – 80/12, 90/14 – work well with quilting cottons, lightweight upholstery, denim, silk dupioni, and other similar weight fabrics. There are jeans needles that you can buy especially for sewing jeans. The name of John James Needles is still recognised by needle crafters You can use a thicker thread like a jeans thread or strong polyester thread. If a sewing machine can deal with denim with ease, you already have upgraded your standards considerably. Choosing the proper needle for your sewing project will result in a beautiful finish and fewer problems. This thread comes in a variety of spool sizes. The eye of the needle is sized for general sewing threads such as all-purpose polyester and 50-weight cotton.. Further, this makes it easier for the users to differentiate between 80-11 mm, 90-14 mm, and 100-16 mm. Other specialised needle types: Denim: Has a very sharp acute point and a stronger shaft for denim, canvas and other tightly woven fabrics. They are also very sharp! I mean, I’m not sure when, in sewing, you’d want dull scissors. Change Needles More Often What can happen to a needle when sewing through denim. 2. Sewing Basics - Know Your Needles By Nancy Fiedler Whether you have a top-of-the-line sewing machine or an economy model, the most important tool used is the sewing machine needle. 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