Is there a difference between sewing machine needles and embroidery machine needles?
Industrial and commercial embroidery machines and combination sewing-embroidery machines have a hooping or framing system that holds the framed area of fabric taut under the sewing needle and moves it automatically to create a design from a pre-programmed digital embroidery pattern.
But because the eye on sewing needles are shorter, what we usually recommend is going up a size. So if your embroidery project requires a size 70 embroidery machine needle, you can use a size 80 sewing machine needle instead.
Embroidery needles are usually less sharp than sewing needles, with a larger eye. These features make an embroidery needle better suited to embroidery thread, which has a tendency to break, snap or fray when being used with a sewing needle.
Crewel/embroidery needles
It's a medium-length, sharp-pointed needle with a long eye. The most popular sizes used in embroidery are size 7 and 9, that's why we recommend this set from Hemline. They are low-cost and you get 16 in a pack varying in size between 3-9, so perfect for standard embroidery.
Use needle 75/11 for embroidery. It is recommended that a 90/14 needle should be used when embroidering on heavyweight fabrics or stabilizing products (for example, denim, puffy foam, etc.).
Embroidery needles have a long oval eye that is somewhat larger than a standard sewing needle. This makes it easier to use with multiple strands of embroidery floss. The end has a sharp point, making it great to use on fabric with a tighter weave for surface embroidery.
The most common size needle across all sewing applications is a size 80/12. For embroidery, the most common size is the slightly smaller 75/11. Embroidery needles are typically available in 3 sizes: 75/11, 80/12, and 90/14. The lighter the weight of the fabric, the smaller needle should be used.
Embroidery needles have a long eye which makes threading the needle so much easier when using multiple strands of thread. The most popular sizes used to embroider are size 7 and 9. Because of their large eye these needles are suitable for general sewing.
With any embroidery, you need embroidery needles as these have a sharp, pointed end. This will allow you to pierce through your fabric with ease. As the holes in the aida or evenweave are quite easy to come through with cross stitch, you need special tapestry needles.
A basic guideline that many professional embroiderers use to determine when to change needles is the three strikes rule. You should replace a needle whenever there has been three consecutive thread breaks on the needle. You should also change a needle if it breaks or is skipping stitches.
What is a 90 14 needle used for?
90/14 needles are great when you are starting to sew medium weight fabrics like poplin, broadcloth and muslin. Think printed quilting cotton. These three sizes come standard in a pack of Schmetz universal needles, which is a great pack to get you started.
A 75/11 needle is designed for use on high speed commercial embroidery machines. It is an ideal all-purpose needle size that can be used with standard threads like polyester and rayon, as well as heavier threads like metallic.
Size 9 (European 70) – Use these for sewing sheers and the finest fabrics, such as lace and chiffon. Size 11 (European 80) – Use these with light-weight fabrics such as silk, muslin, and calicoes.
Size 80/12 -use on lightweight woven fabrics. For use on Singer®, Brother®, Kenmore® and other quality sewing machines.
Yes you can embroider with a sewing needle if you are doing something with fine threadwork. If you want to use a thicker embroidery thread or floss, then you will want an embroidery needle that has a larger eye for thick threads.
While you can use universal needles for embroidery, I highly recommend using special machine embroidery needles for your embroidery projects as they can cause embroidery thread to fray, snap, or break less often than universal needles do.
For most embroidery projects on average-weight fabric, a 75/11 needle works great. For heavier cottons and linens, you might go up to an 80/12 size, and for heavy denims and fleeces you might use a 90/14 needle. Please note that the thinner your thread, the smaller the needle should be.
As a general rule, your sharp, or normal point needles are used for your woven fabrics with a few exceptions and your ballpoint needles are used for your knits and fine fabrics such as sheers.
The most popular size and commonly used in embroidery is a size 7 however the finer sizes of 8, 9 and 10 are fabulous to use if you prefer a finer and shorter length of needle.
As the rounded tip does not penetrate the fibres, but rather pushes them aside, the tapestry needles are especially suitable for embroidery with coarser materials such as wool.
What do the numbers mean on embroidery needles?
The size of a needle is indicated by a number. In the case of embroidery (crewel) needles, the numbers are 1 – 12, although size 11 and 12 needles are harder to come by. They aren't as commonly available as sizes 1 – 10. Because needles are made from wire, they are sized the same way wire is sized, in most cases.
Embroidery (or “crewel”) needles have sharp points and slightly elongated eyes. They're used for crewel work and most surface embroidery where piercing through the fabric threads is necessary to the stitching. Tapestry needles (pictured above) have long eyes and blunt points.
Sashiko needles are longer and smooth for running stitching. The larger eye of needle is especially for sashiko thread which is larger than embroidery needles. These needles have a large needle eye and are flexible and warp resistant. Runs smoothly through fabric.
Satin Stitch
This is the most common embroidery stitch type and is used in the majority of lettering and design outlines. In this example, you can see the center of the "O" is filled using a fill stitch. The edge of the "O" is reinforced using a satin stitch. The other text uses a satin stitch as the fill and outline.
Cross stitch is arguably simpler, as it's formed of just a few types of stitches that are worked in a grid formation. It also requires you to follow a pattern (chart) and key to show which colours and stitches to use, and where to place them.
