- Pro Tips
- Bobbin Case Issues
- Embroidery Backing Basics And When To Use Them
- Embroidery Hacks
- Embroidery Thread Weights & What Do They Mean
- Hacks For Left Chest Design Placement
- How And When To Use Pre Digitized Fonts In Your Commercial Embroidery Business
- How To Hoop A Cap
- How To Make Custom Embroidery Patches
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How To Select The Right Needle For Your Commercial Embroidery Machine
- How To Stay In Tune With The Embroidery Industry
- How To Troubleshoot & Solve For Your Commercial Embroidery Machines Working Parts
- How to Troubleshoot Tension Issues With Your Commercial Embroidery Machine
- How To Use Appliqué Designs In Your Commercial Embroidery Business
- Production Tips
- Pro Tips List
- Thread Weights And Their Uses
- Tips For Cleaning Up Your Puffy Foam
- Top 3 Differences in Cut Away & Tear Away Embroidery Backing
- Top Reasons To Use Fabrics In Your Embroidery Shop
- Top Tips For Commercial Embroidery Machine Maintenance
- What Are The Main Machine Embroidery Bobbin Types
- What Are The Reasons For Thread Breaks
- What Supplies Do I Need To Make Custom Embroidery Patches
- When To Use Cotty Thread In Your Embroidery Designs
- When To Use More Than One Layer Of Backing
- When To Use Solvy Wash Away Backing For Commercial Machine Embroidery
- Why Is 3D Puffy Foam Profitable
Embroidery Machine Needles
How To Select The Right Size And Tip
When picking the correct needle for your embroidery project, consider the thread (type and weight), material to be embroidered, and the layers of backings/toppings. Needle size refers to the needle thickness along with the size of the eye.
1. The wrong size needle will either make too big of a hole or too small of a hole in the embroidered material.
2. Needle size refers to the needle thickness - the thicker the needle the stronger the needle will be.
3. The needle “eye” will affect the thread flow through the needle. Smaller needles have smaller eyes and larger needles have larger eyes. With that said, thin threads need smaller needles, thicker threads need larger needles.
1. The wrong needle tip can make holes and/or tear the material being embroidered.
2. Sharp needles will penetrate most fabrics creating a hole in the material with its honed point. Sharp needles should not be used on “all” fabrics. Sharp needles work best with fabrics like denim, canvas, caps, etc.
3. Ball point needles will pass between fibers of the material with its rounded point. Ball point needles are best used for delicate fabrics like knits, fleece, lycra, athletic wear, etc.
Needle Point
Needle tip that penetrates fabric to pass the thread to the bobbin hook and form a stitch. The shape of the point varies among needle types.
Needle Eye
Hole in the end of the needle through which the thread passes. Needle size and type determine the size and shape of the eye.
Long Groove
The slit above the needle eye, which should be large enough to “cradle” the thread.
Shank
Top of the needle that inserts into the machine. Commercial embroidery machines use round shank needles. It is very important to make sure the needle is inserted correctly (long groove in front, scarf in back with the eye facing straight forward). Home embroidery machines, most often use flat shank needles (it has a round front and flat back). The flat back seats the needle in the right position.
Blade
Body of the needle below the shank. The shaft thickness determines needle size.
Scarf
Indentation at the back of the needle. A long scarf helps eliminate skipped stitches by allowing the bobbin hook to loop the thread more easily. A shorter scarf requires a more perfectly timed machine.
If you have any additional questions about needles contact us, we are happy to help! 1-800-432-3781
Watch this video to learn how to select the right size needle for the right job.
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