Begin Quilting: How to Choose the Right Needle and Thread for Piecing Quilts by Machine

Hello! It's so nice to see you again. I hope you are having a great week and are making time to work on your quilt projects. Notice I said "making time" instead of "finding time"? That's because you and I know that finding time for our hobbies and projects just doesn't normally happen. I promise that if you will be committed to setting aside time each week to work on your quilt projects, then you'll happily see measurable progress plus growth in your quilting skills!

Speaking of skill growth, I am reminded that when I began quilting, I knew very little about this week's topic on how to choose the right needle and thread for piecing my quilts by machine. I mean it's just needle and thread, right? So, what's all the fuss about? It's amazing how a little knowledge can open doors to being more successful at life's endeavors. Benjamin Franklin said, "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."

If you haven't had an opportunity to read last week's post "Begin Quilting: How to Decide on the Right Size Quilt to Make," then use the highlighted link to hop on over and discover some very useful information on how to decide on which quilt size is right for your project. Now, let's discover a little more knowledge about needle and thread in order to make an investment in our quilting skills.
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A Few Points to Ponder about Needles

Replacing Needles:

• Old needles can actually damage your machine. The life-span of your sewing machine motor depends on how hard it has to work to continually push the needle through the layers of fabric when you are piecing or quilting several layers. Dull needles make your machine work harder, so always use new needles when quilting.
  

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• As a rule, it is a good practice to replace the old needle with a new one each time you start a new quilting project.

 

• Older needles may also become bent which is a hazard to you and your machine. A bent needle may unexpectedly strike the needle plate and snap off. I've had more than my share of this mishap before learning these important guidelines, and I have actually had a needle snap off and hit me in the face. Bent needles also have the potential to damage the bobbin case.

   

• Deep breath... now throw away those 10-year-old, used, sewing machine needles! I admit this was hard for me to do since I'm a frugal and thrifty-minded crafter. Yes, I've held on to used machine needles that long (or longer)... before I learned that it's not good for my machine or my safety!

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Anatomy of a Sewing Machine Needle

Sewing machine needles are specifically designed for use in domestic and industrial machines and come in several different types depending on the fiber or thickness of materials that are to be sewn. Below is a diagram of a sewing machine needle with all the parts labeled. On closer inspection, you'll see there's definitely more to a needle than meets the "eye" (sorry, I couldn't resist).

www.pinterest.com

Needle packages:

Machine needles come packaged by type and contain either all the same size or mixed sizes. When searching for needle types, be sure to check the package label for needles marked especially for quilting. Quilting needles are slim, tapered, and have a slightly rounded tip.

​Quilting needles range in these sizes.

• 75/11
  
• 80/12
  
• 90/14

www.schmetz.com

An amazing and interesting blog on sewing machine needles is found on SCHMETZ's website. Their article, "All About Needles" is loaded with information and charts about  needle size, design, and even how they are engineered! Click on the highlighted text to visit their site.

Tips About Thread

Needle and thread go together like peanut butter and jelly and work best when they are properly paired. Let me say here that  the quality of the thread you choose is important.

Good quality thread is a worthwhile investment for your quilting projects. Think of all the time, effort, blood, sweat, and tears (you get the picture) that goes into a quilt. It is worth a little extra expense to have long-lasting durability for your quilt projects.  I always try to purchase thread when it is on sale because it's a great opportunity to stock up, especially on neutral colors.
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Basic Rules:

• When it comes to basic rules about thread types, it is a good rule to pair like thread fibers with like fabric fibers. ​
  

• Since quilts are generally pieced using cotton fiber, it is a good practice to use cotton thread. 

The thread weight you choose will depend on whether you are piecing quilt blocks together, machine quilting the layers of a quilt sandwich, or hand quilting.
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​Here are a few great web resources for further research on thread weights and types: 

• Craftsy   
• Nancy's Notions

No doubt there are tons of information on the web and in print about needles and thread. I've only touched on some of that information to help you to begin quilting. Hopefully, you now have more answers to help your quilting projects come together more smoothly. 

Thank you so much for reading; please let me know if I can be of any help along your quilting journey. Best wishes!