Collection: needles

Needle knowledge – sewing needles, sewing machine needles & pins

What should you consider when choosing the right needle?

There are various ways to classify the different needle types. The main classification for the fastening system of sewing machine needles is, for example, 287WH for round shanks and 130/705H for flat shanks. Round shanks are mainly found on older machines, while the current standard is the flat shank. Make sure beforehand that you are buying the right needles for your type of sewing machine.

In addition to the system for attaching it to the sewing machine, the needle tip is particularly important. The universal needle, for example, has the classic, simple, slightly rounded needle tip. This makes it an all-rounder that, as the name implies, is suitable for different fabric qualities. There are also needles with a ball head, such as the jersey needle or the stretch needle. This makes them very suitable for knitwear, as they slide or push through the mesh structure and do not damage or even cut it. It is therefore important to use the right needle for the material of your DIY project.

In addition to the respective tip and the fastening, the needle thickness also plays a decisive role in the sewing success, as it has to match the nature of the material. For fine materials, thinner needles are needed that make smaller holes, and for coarse materials, larger needles that can penetrate the material really well. The thickness indicated in numbers on the packaging, such as 70, corresponds to 0.7 mm diameter, as the ratio 1:100 is used for the conversion.

Why is the quality of the needle so important?

The right sewing tool is very important for the success of your DIY project, as it can affect the quality in terms of both appearance and feel. If you are dissatisfied with your seam when sewing, then first remember to check the needle. If you use the sewing needle for too long, it becomes blunt and even bent, the stitch pattern can quickly suffer. Skipped stitches, material damage along the seam or the thread breaking off can all be the result. That's why it's important to always have replacements on hand and to regularly check the sewing tool for wear. There are also other important needles that make your sewing hobby much easier.

Pins are extremely popular tools for marking, tacking and fixing. Pins are very useful for many sewing applications and should therefore not be missing in any household. We stock pins in a wide variety of designs, such as pins with glass heads or pins with plastic heads. We also have the right storage option in our range with pin cushions and needle twisters. Pin cushions and needle twisters are also available in super practical magnetic versions, so no more pins go missing and they are very easy and convenient to use.

Which needle suits which fabric and where are they used?

What types of sewing needles are there?

There are many different types of needles, each of which has a specific purpose and is particularly well suited to a particular material. These include:

• jeans needle
• jersey needle
• Microtex needle
• sewing machine needle
• quilt needle
• quilting needle
• stretch needle
• Super Universal Needle
• universal needle
• wool needle
• twin needle

How do the main needles differ from each other and what are the specific strengths?

• Jersey needle, stretch needle & jeans needle: What all three variants have in common is a central ball-shaped head. This simply displaces the stitches in the material and fills the gaps between the threads. This means that there is no damage or injury to the structure of knitted fabrics. The stretch variant has a special eye which, in conjunction with the hollow shape, ensures a reliable stitch pattern, especially with highly elastic fabrics. In addition to the ball head which protects the material, the jeans variant also has a reinforced shaft, which is required for this robust fabric so that the needle lasts longer and does not break prematurely.
• Microtex needle: Has a very thin, narrow and, above all, very sharp tip to ensure the precise penetration required to achieve a straight, clean stitch pattern, even with very strong fabrics or materials with a coating. Reduces uneven seams, particularly with finer woven fabrics, which would otherwise occur due to the displacement of the threads within the weave. With fine woven fabrics, the narrower the needle, the less the displacement effect negatively affects the linearity of the seam.
• Quilt needle & quilting needle: In this variant, the tip is thin, conical and rounded. This shape is particularly suitable for quilting and patchwork. It is therefore possible to work with padding and thick layers of fabric without causing any problems.   
• Embroidery needle: Also has a small ball point with which it can displace the fabric and stitches without damaging them. As a special feature, this variant has a larger eye and another groove for the thread. These are especially needed for the building effect, metal and embroidery threads so that the respective embroidery thread is not so stressed and does not break so easily.
• Universal needle : With its slightly rounded tip, it still corresponds to the typical standard shape of the classic tip. This type is the true all-rounder. It is suitable for many fabrics and therefore for a variety of sewing projects.
• Twin needle : The twin version has a fastening piston but two needle tips. They can be used in practically any sewing machine. The distances between the needles vary depending on the model. Because of the two tips, two spools and holders are required. Two threads must also be threaded. This makes it possible to create decorative double seams, which are otherwise only found on industrially manufactured clothing such as jeans. Twin needles are also suitable for hemming and almost replace the cover seam of the overlock machine.

Discover now other Prym sewing accessories and thread for sewing !