Lets get straight to the point!...........choosing the right needle!

 Finding the right needle for your project!
Hi there my Rubynistas!
I have spent a week trying to think of a catchy title for this blog but the only ones I could come up with involved pr**** so I thought i had better play safe!

If you want a fabulous finish to create perfect projects then you have got to use the right needle and thread for your fabric. It all sounds a bit scary but thats what I'm here for - to guide you along!  Before you know it you will be changing a needle on your machine without giving it a second thought! you will be like a real pro! (ahem)

 Machine needles come in different sizes just like hand sewing ones do. You can even get twin needles but more about them another day! Most needle packs show the needle sizes in metric and imperial but don't worry - the higher the number the bigger the needle!

Imperial sizing	9-18
Metric sizing	65-110

Using the wrong size needle could lead to a disaster bigger than than the low rise Yorkshire Puds I cooked last Christmas Day! A big needle on fine delicate fabrics will create big holes, (nice), and you could get your needle trapped in your bobbin case, (disaster). If you are sewing heavy fabrics you will break a needle that is too fine. If you think back to hand sewing you can't do your tapestry with a fine sharp needle and you certainly can't sew silk with a blooming great tapestry needle. So the principle is the same for hand and machine sewing. Does that all make sense?......

So, we are agreed we need the right needle for the right job. But what are the right needles? Below is a table of the most used types;

Needle type	Fabric type
Universal	A slightly rounded point, good general needle. Perfect for knit and woven fabrics
Denim/Jeans	Strong stiff needle with an extra sharp point. Great for denim, heavy faux leather etc
Ballpoint	Blunt rounded tip on needle. Slips into fabric rather than pierce so is perfect for fabrics like lycra
Twin Needle	Two shafts and a crossbar. Great for decorative stitches and uniformly stitched rows. These have two numbers – first is the distance between the needles and second is its metric size.

To change your needle look in your user manual - it is an easy job! Your user manual should also give you more information about needle and fabric types.

Its really simple to change a needle so have a play around this week with some different fabrics and see how it goes!

Next week we will be looking at the right thread for the fabric! I loooooooooove thread.

Have a wonderful sunny week

J xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx