Embroidery needles have a long eye which makes threading the needle so much easier when using multiple strands of thread. The most popular sizes used to embroider are size 7 and 9.

Stretch needles have sizes of 75/11 and 90/14 and come with a deep scarf so the bobbin hook can get closer to the needle eye. They are excellent for stitching lightweight material such as light knits or when you need a finer needle. When You Should Change Your Sewing Machine Needle You can get triple needles just like twin needles that allow you to sew three rows of stitches at a time, making them great for decorative edge stitching. Ballpoint needles - Ball point needles also have a rounded point but are designed to slip between the loops of knit fabric rather than pierce it, ball point needles are made specifically for knits. These needles have a large eye and a sharp point and are used in the art of crewel embroidery and ribbon embroidery. Sizes range from 13 to 26; the most popular sizes are 16 to 26. Size 13 and 14 are commonly used for heavy and coarse fabrics.These wedge-shaped needles can pierce leather without tearing or damaging it, they should never be used on other materials and come in a size of 80/12–110/18. It is essential to stitch accurately with stitch leather needles as they leave big holes. Quilting Needles These needles are designed to be very strong and have a long sharp point to be used on denim, they come in a size range of 70/10–110/18. Metallic Needles

As well as the weight of the fabric you need to consider the type of needle thread you are using too as this relates to the needle size that you choose too. Machine needle sizes are always quoted in imperial and metric. Regular point machine needles are designed for domestic regular sewing machines and are used for basic stitching. Not only can the wrong size needle and the wrong type of needle affect the quality of your work, but they can also potentially damage your machine over time which is why you need the right size and type.

Plastic Needles - Red

Using the wrong type of sewing needle is one of the most common mistakes novices and even some experienced sewers still make. It can lead to needle breakage, difficulty working with the chosen fabric and poor stitch quality. Needles can also wear over time which effects the experience in use and quality of the finished work.

Curved needles are great for those difficult tasks: sewing fabric boxes together or repairing lampshades. When you first start sewing, you might think any type of sewing machine needle is the correct needle to sew with, as long as the needle is not broken or bending, and while you can get a universal needle, they are not always the right type of needle for what you are sewing. It's a true scale size guide, so all needles pictured are at actual size when printed to A4. Making this a fantastic tool for sewing needle selection and identification.So to make sewing machine needle types and sewing machine needle sizes a little less overwhelming for you, we've put together a simplified chart guide for you to follow below. The Parts Of a Sewing Machine Needle Use the standard needle threader for threading cotton/thread and the chunky threader when using chunky yarn. These needles create trouble free seaming and are the perfect complement to jersey and synthetic fabrics. With elongated eyes, these needles allow the metallic thread to pass through the needle threader without friction and come in a size of 80/12. Embroidery Needles Most sewing tasks can be completed with the all-purpose needles above, however, there are specialist sewing machine needles for particular fabrics which can give an even better stitch quality to your fabric if you want a professional finish. Topstitch Needles