SCHMETZ Works with ALL Sewing Machine Brands!
Needle Anatomy
Butt:
Shank:
Shoulder:
Blade:
Groove:
Scarf:
Eye:
Point & Tip:
Needle Type:
Needle Size:
130/705 H:
The beveled end allows easy insertion in the needle bar.
Household needles have a flat shank, while commercial and industrial needles have round, threaded, notched or other special shanks. Shanks allow perfect positioning of the needle in the sewing machine.
The sloping area transitioning between the shank and blade. SCHMETZ color codes appear on the shoulder.
Needle size is determined by the blade diameter (i.e., size 75 is .75mm).
The groove cradles and guides thread to the eye. The length and size of the groove vary according to needle type.
The indentation above the eye that allows the bobbin hook to smoothly grab the thread under the throat plate to create a stitch. The shape and size of the scarf vary according to needle type.
The hole through which thread passes. The shape and size of the eye vary according to needle type.
Length, shape, and size vary according to needle types.
Upper color band indicates needle type (i.e., Topstitch).
Lower color band indicates size (i.e., 75/11).
The needle system used by home sewing machines. Needles have a flat shank and a scarf.
How to Read a Needle Package
The SCHMETZ Advantage
- Less friction on thread passing through eye.
- Penetrates fabric with less resistance.
- Smoother stitch creation.
- Resists heat – improved durability & performance.
Change Your Needle
Damaged or worn needles result in:
• Broken or shredded threads
• Skipped or uneven stitches
• Puckered or damaged fabrics
• Popping sounds made by sewing machine
Replace Your Needle
It’s the easiest way to improve stitch quality.
Needle Selection
Choose needle size according to thread thickness and needle type according to fabric application.
General Purpose Needles
Universal
Size: 60/8, 65/9, 70/10, 75/11, 80/12, 90/14, 100/16, 110/18, 120/19, Assorted, Twin, Triple
Color Code: Size only.
Feature: Slightly rounded point.
Fabric Use: Numerous - woven and knits. A great general purpose needle.
Jersey (Ball Point)
Size: 70/10, 80/12,90/14, 100/16, Assorted
Color Code: Orange
Feature: Medium ball point.
Fabric Use: Knits and some stretch fabrics. Made especially for sewing on knits. The medium ball point does not damage or break knit fibers.
Stretch
Size: 65/9, 75/11, 90/14, Twin
Color Code: Yellow
Feature: Medium ball point, special eye and scarf.
Fabric Use: Elastic materials and highly elastic knitwear. The medium ball point, specially designed eye, and scarf prevent skipped stitches.
Specialty Needles
Double Eye
Size: 80/12
Color Code: Size only.
Feature: Universal needle with two eyes.
Fabric Use: Numerous — woven and knits. Use two different threads for shading and texturing effects for embroidery and topstitching.
Embroidery
Size: 75/11, 90/14, Assorted, Twin
Color Code: Red
Feature: Light ball point, wide eye and groove.
Fabric Use: Use with rayon, polyester and other specialty embroidery threads. The special scarf, widened groove and enlarged eye protect fragile threads and guard against excess friction allowing trouble-free embroidery and decorative stitching.
Gold Embroidery
Size: 75/11, 90/14
Color Code: None
Feature: Titanium Nitride coating, slightly rounded point and enlarged eye.
Fabric Use: Coarse and densely woven materials. Slightly rounded point and enlarged eye are perfect for embroidery on most fabrics and with the most fragile specialty threads. Titanium coating resists adhesives, improves needle wear and penetration of coarse and densely woven fabrics.
Hemstitch
Size: 100, 120, Twin
Color Code: Size only.
Feature: A wing on each side of the needle.
Fabric Use: Light or medium weight loosely woven fabrics. Popular for heirloom sewing and to create decorative cut work.
Jeans/Denim
Size: 70/10, 80/12, 90/14, 100/16, 110/18, Assorted, Twin
Color Code: Blue
Feature: Medium ball point and reinforced blade.
Fabric Use: Denim and similar fabrics. For penetrating extra thick woven fabrics, denims, or quilts with minimum needle deflection, reduced risk of needle breakage and skipped stitches.
Leather
Size: 70/10, 80/12, 90/14, 100/16, 110/18, Assorted
Color Code: Brown
Feature: Cutting point.
Fabric Use: Leather, artificial leather, heavy non-woven synthetics. Do not use on knit or woven fabrics.
Metallic
Size: 80/12, 90/14, Twin
Color Code: Pink
Feature: Elongated eye.
Fabric Use: Metallic and other specialty threads. A “must have” for sewing with sensitive metallic threads. The elongated eye prevents shredding and breaking of metallic threads.
Microtex (Sharp)
Size: 60/8, 70/10, 80/12, 90/14, 100/16, 110/18, Assorted
Color Code: Purple
Feature: Very slim acute point.
Fabric Use: Micro fibers, polyester, silk, foils, artificial leather, coated materials. Very thin acute point creates beautiful topstitching and perfectly straight stitches for quilt piecing when precision is paramount.
Quick Threading
Size: 80/12, 90/14
Color Code: Size only.
Feature: Universal needle with a slip-in threading slot in the eye.
Fabric Use: Numerous — woven and knits. A general purpose needle for effortless threading.
Quilting
Size: 75/11, 90/14, Assorted
Color Code: Green
Feature: Special taper to the slightly rounded point.
Fabric Use: Made especially for piecing and machine quilting. The special tapered design allows easier fabric penetration and helps eliminate skipped stitches.
Super NonStick
Size: 70/10, 80/12, 90/14, 100/16
Color Code: None
Feature: Anti-adhesive coating (NIT), extra large eye, distinctive scarf, and reinforced blade prevent skipped stitches and provides a residue-free needle.
Fabric Use: Use when sewing multi-media quilts, embroidery stabilizer, spray adhesive, fusibles, vinyl, or hook and loop tape.
Topstitch
Size: 80/12, 90/14, 100/16
Color Code: Light Green
Feature: Elongated eye.
Fabric Use: Topstitch, heavy, multiple or poor quality threads. Achieve perfectly straight stitch lines and even stitches when using a straight stitch plate.
Multiple Needles
Twin
Double needles are two needles mounted on one shank used to create two rows of stitches simultaneously. Use two spools of thread.
Triple
Triple needles are three needles mounted on one shank used to create three rows of stitches simultaneously. Use three spools of thread.
Universal Twin
Size: 1.6/70, 1.6/80, 2.0/80, 2.5/80, 3.0/90, 4.0/80, 4.0/90, 4.0/100, 6.0/100, 8.0/100, Assorted
Double Hemstitch
Size: 2.5/100
Feature: A hemstitch needle and a universal needle with a 2.5 mm separation.
Embroidery Twin
Size: 2.0/75, 3.0/75
Metallic Twin
Size: 2.5/80, 3.0/90
Jeans Twin
Size: 4.0/100
Stretch Twin
Size: 2.5/75, 4.0/75
Universal Triple
Size: 2.5/80, 3.0/80
Spring Needles
SCHMETZ Stretch spring needles combine the function of a darning spring on the needle itself. These needles are a dream for free-hand machine embroidery or monogramming in a hoop without a foot.
Jeans/Denim
Size: 100/16
Feature: Modified medium ball point and reinforced blade.
Fabric Use: Use on extra thick woven fabrics, denim, or quilts.
Embroidery
Size: 75/11, 90/14
Feature: Light ball point, enlarged eye and wide groove.
Fabric Use: The Embroidery spring needle protects fast moving, fragile threads against excess friction allowing trouble-free embroidery and decorative stitching.
Quilting
Size: 75/11, 90/14
Feature: With a special taper to the slightly rounded point, the needle easily penetrates fabric and helps eliminate skipped stitches.
Fabric Use: Specifically designed for piecing and quilting.
Stretch
Size: 75/11, 90/14
Feature: Medium ball point, specially designed eye, and scarf to prevent skipped stitches.
Fabric Use: Use on highly elastic knits especially if the fiber content includes Lycra®, Spandex or elastic.
Universal
Size: 70/10, 80/12, 90/14
Feature: Slightly rounded point.
Fabric Use: Numerous - woven and knits.