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Modern Art Quilters
Sewing Machines and Other Tools for The Best Quilting Results...
by Helen Howes NEW SERIES: PART 1 - Needles
Now, all the sewing machines ever made need a needle, and apart from some very early and unsuccessful attempts, almost all have a needle with an eye at the sharp end. It is said that Singer dreamed this, waking in a panic from a dream of being chased by fierce warriors with holes in their spear-points. Almost certainly apocryphal!
Needles are the cause of more irritation and grief than is needed.. When did you last change yours? It is recommended that they are used for no more than 8 hours of sewing before replacement, and itís possible to bend or catch one in putting it in, so maybe after 2 minutes. I don't often blunt mine (sew too fast) as I tend to break them, but I often look across a classroom and suggest a New Needle - 'How can you tell?' is the plaintive cry - well, listen to the sound, if they ìpopî they are past it..
Needle sizes are quite logical, if a little odd. There are several systems, and most packets will have at least a couple of alternate sizes marked for each type. Bigger numbers = bigger needles. So, for piecing cotton, you need a fine needle (12/80) and a thinner thread than for quilting (14/90). For mending your jeans (you don't do that, right? Alterations are for Other People), maybe a 16/100. Match your thread to the work (for fine silk, a very fine thread and perhaps a 9/75 needle. For cotton piecing, perhaps a 50s cotton thread. For quilting you might use a more substantial thread so that it has a good 'look' on the surface. As a very basic rule, if the needle is really hard to thread, go up a size, if really easy, go down one..
Types of Needles - The regular point (sometimes called 'universal') is good for most plain cloths, and I use these almost all the time. If you sew jersey fabrics, use a Ball Point needle, as these are less likely to cause little running holes. For embroidery you may like a needle with a bigger eye (Metallic), but these can be fragile. Sewing leather? Use the right needle, and donít expect your machine to like it much. Then there are Denim, Microtex, assorted others which claim to have sharper points.. Iím not totally convinced, but your machine may like them. Buy a good brand (Schmetz, Organ, Groz-Beckert) and preferably not from the supermarket...
Lots of old machines come to me with a Poker installed - my theory is this. You buy a pack of Mixed Sizes. You start by using the 14/90s, as they are easy to thread and fairly suitable. Then the 12/80s, as they are harder to thread but still pretty good to sew with. Then the remaining 16/100 gets put in, never breaks, and eventually starts to make huge holes in the cloth..Oh, dear.. One lady rang to request ìone needleî as she had just broken her 47-year-old last one.. I sent 5. Later, she rang again ìIt sews ever so much better with the new needle"
Treat yourself, have a new needle today! (and another tomorrow)
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