How to Select Sewing Machine Needles Based on Fabric

The most commonly used sewing machine needles are called standard or universal. A sewing machine needle sturdy enough to punch through heavy fabric could make a large hole in delicate fabric, so you need to select a sewing machine needle based on the fabric you are sewing. Good quality standard sewing machine needles are color coded.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Look for standard sewing machine needles that have a red top (shank) and a colored band beneath the shank of the needle. The color on the band is indication of what type of fabric the standard needle will sew for the best results. In addition to a color band, sewing machine needles carry a number that gauges the diameter of the point. The smaller the needle number, the smaller the point size. For ease of choice though, look for the colored ring.

2. A standard sewing machine needle with an orange ring is designed to sew lightweight fabrics like chiffon, silk, taffeta, or voile.

3. Sew stretch fabrics, including spandex, nylon tricot, and jersey, with a blue banded needle.

4. If you are sewing cotton or cotton blends, gingham, knits, linen, percale, seersucker, or wool crepe, then select a red band sewing machine needle.

5. For medium weight fabric, like corduroy, denim, gabardine, lightweight leather, and wool or wool crepe, select a red or purple needle.

6. Heavy weight fabrics like canvas, cotton duck, or upholstery are best sewn with a green sewing machine needle.