Embroidery Machine Needle Comparison and Choosing The Right Types
It goes without saying that needles are significant for all machine embroidery projects. However, choosing the right needle for the right project may be confusing, especially if you are new and not well-versed with the process and working of embroidery machines. Things get overly complicated when one reads an endless number of articles and guides available online on embroidery machine needles.
Nonetheless, if you, too, are looking for some brief yet insightful information on embroidery machine needles, you are on the right platform. Below, we have put together a brief and clear guide to help you clear out myths and understand the process of choosing the right embroidery machine needles for your projects.
Before we dive deeper into the details, a first consideration before you choose an embroidery needle it’s important to consider the specifications of the machine, type of the fabric you would be using, the stabilizer, and the thread with which you would be working. These are some of the key factors that will influence the type and point of the embroidery machine needle that you should ideally be using for any project. Once you are able to choose the right needle type, you will automatically reduce thread breaks and come up with a smoother, crisper, and cleaner embroidery design.
Anatomy of Embroidery Machine Needles
A closer look into embroidery machine needles reveals two different sides, including a round side and a flat side. These different geometric appearances enable needles to seamlessly fit into embroidery machines.
Moving on, some important parts of the needles include the point, shank, grove, and eye. Each of these parts influences the way the needle performs during an embroidery job; thereby, it’s important to consider each of these parts when choosing an embroidery machine needle for a specific project.
Is there a difference between sewing needles and embroidery machine needles?
While the two may appear similar to an untrained eye, there are subtle differences between sewing and embroidery machine needles. For starters, the embroidery machine needles are manufactured explicitly for machine embroidery and cannot be used for sewing purposes. On the other hand, sewing needles may be used for machine embroidery (not recommended, though).
Moving on, the biggest difference between the two needle types is the shape of the eye and scarf. Since embroidery machine needles are specifically designed to fit embroidery machines, these tend to have a longer eye and specifically shaped scarf. This subtle variation in the needle design help embroidery machine needles handle delicate embroidery threads and minimize thread break during the embroidery work.
Key Aspects of Embroidery Machine Needles
- Point
Almost all embroidery machine needles come with a universal point, which is shaped with a subtly rounded tip. The point shape of the embroidery machine needle is in between sharp and ballpoint type points and is the preferred shape for the point since it can be used on almost all major types of fabrics and stabilizers. However, when using a very fine stabilizer (like a water-soluble stabilizer), it is recommended to use a needle with a sharp point needle. This helps the needle easily penetrate the stabilizer and not tear it apart.
- Size
The size of embroidery machine needles may vary from 70 to 110 mm. In general, the lower the size, the finer the needle. However, choosing the right size will eventually depend on the type of fabric, stabilizer, and thread used during the embroidery project. The stitch density should also be considered when choosing the size of the embroidery machine needle.
- Type
The type of needle you should choose for the embroidery project will depend on the fabric and design you want to embroider. Titanium needles are the most heavy-duty needles preferred when using dense material (denim, etc.) or embroidering large, complicated designs. Titanium needles have the required strength to penetrate through any fabric easily. Also, the point and surface of titanium needles tend to hold their shape ad dimensions. These needles tend to last 3x to 5x longer than traditional chromium-plated needles.
Choosing Needles for Specific Embroidery Machines!
Another important aspect to consider when shopping for embroidery machine needles is to check out the compatibility of different needle types with your embroidery machine. A good practice is to read through the user manual for the machine and find out the recommended needle type. Different embroidery machines may require needles with a specific shank type; thereby, not all needles may be compatible with your machine.
Choosing the Right Embroidery Machine Needle for Embroidery Project!
When you are looking to choose the best needle for your embroidery project, you should first understand the complete scope of the project, including the weave and weight of the fabric, the complexity of the design, stitch density, and type of stabilizer, and others. Only once you have factored in all of these aspects can you come up with the ideal type of embroidery machine needle for any project. Here’re some examples for your better understanding:
- Use larger needles when embroidering on heavy fabrics like denim or canvas
- For lighter fabrics like batiste or silk, use lighter fabric
- Use a small needle with a sharp point for small letters embroidery
- Use a sharp point titanium needle when looking to embroider on dense fabric like leather or denim
Best Advice
Well, by now, you must have accumulated significant knowledge and understanding of embroidery needle types and how you can differentiate between needles. The challenge with choosing an embroidery machine needle is that each embroidery project comes with its unique needs and requirements. This means that there is no one type fit all needle that we can recommend for all embroidery projects. Rather, you would have to take into consideration all important factors, including design complexity, fabric type, stabilizer type, and others, before choosing a specific needle type. If you are a newbie in the embroidery industry, we recommend keeping a stock of all different types of needles available at all times and performing a test run with different needles to check out the compatibility of different needle types for your specific embroidery needs.
