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What size and type of embroidery machine needle should I use?

Note: Before ordering needles for your embroidery machine, it's important to know that commercial embroidery machines use needles with a round shank, and domestic embroidery machines generally use needles with a flat-sided shank. See list of machines below if you are uncertain.

 

Sewing needle with flat shank.The flat shanked needle is used by most home sewing and embroidery machines. Common identifiers:  HA x 1, 15 x 1, 130/705 H

Needle with rounded shank.The round shanked needle used by most multi-needle (commercial) embroidery machines. Common identifier:  DB x K5 

 

Thread Type and Weight Needle Size
Home (flat) Commercial (round)
Rayon (60 Wt.)
9/65 or 8/60 
9/65 or 8/60
Rayon (40 Wt.)
(Including Potpourri, Multi, Melange, and Vari)
 
11/75 or 12/80 11/75 or 12/80
Rayon (30 Wt.) 11/75 or 12/80 11/75 or 12/80
Polyester/Polyneon (60 Wt.)
9/65 or 8/60 
9/65 or 8/60
Polyester/Polyneon (40 Wt.)
(Including Neon and Blended)
 
11/75 or 12/80 
11/75 or 12/80
Polyester/Polyneon (30 Wt.)
Metallic (50 Wt.) 11/75 11/75
Metallic (40 Wt.)
(Including Jewel, Supertwist, Astro, and Twisted
Metal)
 
11/75 or 80/12
11/75 or 80/12
Metallic (30 Wt.)
 
Metallic (20 Wt.)
14/90 to 16/100
Cotton (50 Wt.)
Cotton (30 Wt.)
Wool (12 Wt.) 16/100 16/100


Fabric Type

Needle Size/Point

Home (flat)

Commercial (round)
Delicate/Transparent Fabrics
(e.g. lingerie, silk, georgette, organdy, chiffon,
tricot, etc.)
 
9/65 to 10/70 (ballpoint)
 
9/65 to 10/70 (ballpoint)
Lightweight Woven Fabrics
(e.g. dress shirts, linen, cotton, cotton blends,
poplin, etc.)
 

11/75 to 12/80 (sharp point)

11/75 to 12/80 (sharp point)

Knit Fabrics
(e.g. fleece, pique)
 
11/75 to 12/80 (ball point)
 
11/75 to 12/80 (ball point)
Elastic Fabrics
(e.g. Lycra)
11/75 to 12/80 (ball point)
 
11/75 to 12/80 (ball point)

Waterproof/Coated Fabrics

11/75 to 12/80 (sharp point)
 
11/75 to 12/80 (sharp point)
Medium-Weight Woven
(wool, medium-weight linens, gingham, man-made
fabric, fine corduroy, suitings)

12/80 to 14/90 (sharp point)

12/80 to 14/90 (sharp point)

Active Sportswear/Double Knits

14/90 (ball point)
 
14/90 (ball point)
Heavyweight Fabrics
(canvas, heavy denim, vinyl)

14/90 to 16/100 (sharp point)

14/90 to 16/100 (sharp point)

Leather

10/70 to 14/90 (sharp point or leather point)
 
10/70 to 14/90 (sharp point or leather point)

Flat Shank Domestic

Sewing needle with flat shank.


Babylock®

Accent, Aerial, Alliance, Aventura, Aventura II, BL60E, Destiny, Destiny II, Ellageo (BLL), Ellageo ESG3, Ellageo Plus (BLL2), Ellegante, Ellegante 2, Ellegante 3, Ellisimo, Ellisimo Gold, Ellisimo Gold 2, Ellure (BLR), Ellure Plus (BLR2), Ellure Plus (BLR3), Embroidery Professional BMP6, Embroidery Professional BMP8, Embroidery Professional EMP6, Embroidery Professional Plus BMP9, Emore, Endurance (BND9), Endurance 2 (BND9-2), Enterprise BNT10, Enterprise BNT10L, Esante, Esante ESE2, Espree, Flourish, Flourish 2, Intrigue, Journey, Sofia, Sofia 2, Spirit, Unity,


Bernina®

5 Series B560, B560E, 5 Series B580, B580E, 7 Series 750-QE, 770 QE, 770 QEE, 790 Plus, 8 Series 830 (830E), 8 Series 830, 830LE, 8 Series 880 (880E), 8 Series 880 Plus (880E Plus), Artista 165, 165E, Artista 170, 170E, Artista 180, 180E, Artista 185, 185 QEE, Artista 200, 200E, Artista 630, 630E, Artista 635LE, Artista 640, 640E, Artista 730, 730E, Artista 780, Aurora 430E, Aurora 440 QEE, Aurora Anniversary Edition 450E, B 700 Embroidery, B 790, Bernette Chicago 7, bernette Deco 340, Bernette Deco B70, Deco 330, Deco 500, Deco 600, Deco 650, E 16 Multi-needle, Happy Voyager,


Brother®

Designio DZ820E, Disney 2001 / ULT2001, Disney 2002 / ULT 2002, Disney 2003 / ULT 2003, Dream Creator Innov-is XE VM5100, Dream Machine 2 Innovis XV8550D, Dream Machine XV8500D, DreamMaker XE VE2200, DreamWeaver VQ3000, DreamWeaver XE VM6200D, Duetta® 2 4750D, Duetta® 4500D, Entrepreneur® PR650, Entrepreneur® PR655, Entrepreneur® Pro PR1000, Entrepreneur® Pro PR1000e, Essence Innov-is VM5200, HE1, HE-240, Innovis 950, Innovis 950D (NV950D), Innovis 1000, Innovis 1200, Innovis 1250D, Innovis 1500D, Innovis 2500D, Innovis 2800D, Innovis 4000, Innovis 4000D, Innovis 4500, Innovis 500D (NV500D), Innovis 6700, Innovis 750D, Innovis 750E (NV750E), Innov-is 870SE, Innovis 900D (NV900D), Innovis 90e, Innovis 990d (NV990D), Innovis NQ1400E, Innovis NQ3500D, Innovis NS1150E, Innovis NS1250E , Innovis NS1750D, Innovis NS2750D, Innov-is PE-400D, Innov-is PE-500, Innov-is PE-525, Innov-is PE-535, Innovis Quattro® 6000D , Innovis V3, Innovis V5, Innovis V7, Isodore® Innovis 5000, LB 6810, LB6770 PRW Project Runway Ltd. Ed., LB6800 PRW Project Runway Ltd. Ed., Luminaire 2 Inno-vis XP2, Luminaire 3 Innov-ís, Luminaire Innov-is XP1, Marie Osmond EM1 Emotions, NQ3700D, Pacesetter PC-6500, Pacesetter PC-7500, Pacesetter PC-8200, Pacesetter PC-8500, Pacesetter PC-8500D, PE 540D, PE-100 (PES), PE-150, PE-170D, PE-180D, PE-200, PE-300S, PE545, PE-700, PE-700II, PE-750D, PE-770, PE-780, PE-780D, PE-900, Persona, PR-600 II, PR-600 IIc, PR-600, PR-600C, PR-620, PR670e, Quattro 3 Trilogy Limited Edition Innovis 6750D, Quattro® 2 6700D, SE1800, SE1900, SE-270D, SE-350, SE-400 (Enthusiast), SE-425, SE625, SE-700, SE725, Simplicity SB7050E, Simplicity SB7500, Simplicity SB7900E, Simplicity SE1, Simplicity SE2, Simplicity SE3, Super Galaxie 2100D, Super Galaxie 3000, Super Galaxie 3000,


Husqvarna Viking®

1+, Designer Diamond, Designer Diamond Deluxe, Designer Diamond Royale, Designer Epic, Designer I, Designer I USB, Designer II, Designer Ruby, Designer Ruby deLuxe, Designer Ruby Royale, Designer Sapphire 85, Designer SE, Designer Topaz 20, Designer Topaz 25, Designer Topaz 30, Designer Topaz 40, Designer Topaz 50, H Class 500E, H Class 600E, HuskyStar EM10, Iris, Platinum 950E, Platinum 955E, Rose, Scandinavia 300, Scandinavia 400,


Janome®

Horizon Memory Craft 12000, Horizon Memory Craft 15000, Memory Craft 10000, Memory Craft 10001, Memory Craft 11000, Memory Craft 200E, Memory Craft 230E, Memory Craft 300E, Memory Craft 350E, Memory Craft 5000, Memory Craft 500E, Memory Craft 550E, Memory Craft 5700, Memory Craft 8000, Memory Craft 9000, Memory Craft 9500, Memory Craft 9700, Memory Craft 9900,


Pfaff®

Creative 1.5, Creative 2.0, Creative 2124, Creative 2134, Creative 2140, Creative 2144, Creative 2170, Creative 4.0, Creative 4.5, Creative Performance, Creative Sensation, Creative Sensation Pro, Creative Vision, PC7560, PC7570, Performance Icon,


Singer®

EU1, Futura CE 100, Futura CE 150, Futura CE 200, Futura CE 250, Futura CE 350, Futura Quartet SEQS-6000, Futura Quartet SEQS-6700, Futura Quintet, Futura XL400, Futura XL-420, Futura XL550 , Futura XL-580, Quantum XL1000, Quantum XL150, Quantum XL5000, Quantum XL6000, SES1000, SES2000, Singer Legacy SE300, Singer Legacy SE340,

Round Shank Commercial

Needle with rounded shank.


Brother® Industrial

BAS 412, BAS 423, Brother (Industrial),


Elna®

eXpressive 940 (Elna 9900),


Janome®

MB-4,


Melco

EP4,

Marshall B.

HI i am Marshall B.

i have a White 3300 i just got from ebay and when i first got it it worked fine. Now, i can't get it to pick up the bobbin thread. I have tried everything i changed the needle, thread, bobbin thread and even new bobbins. i have tried to use stabilizer doesn't work. i changed the material two or three times NOTHING!!!!! i am at my wits end with this machine. i am ready to throw it out. Could someone maybe give me some suggestion's as to what to do???? i have cleaned everything i could with caned air and with a cloth by hand and it still will not pick up. I am an accomplished sewing machine usser but this machine is baffling me i just don't know what to do.....

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Kirsten S.

Hi Marshall, to me it sounds like a timing problem, and might need to be taken to a machine repair shop for a tune up.
It sounds like you have covered the main issues, but here's a list you can go through, item by item to see if you really have and aren't missing a little yet crucial thing:
https://help.brother-usa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/76369/~/machine-will-not-pick-up-bobbin-thread The list is from Brother, which doesn't make the White, but the basics are universal. You'll need to check your manual to find out which bobbin is correct, and for any other specifics.

Check your upper thread tension. Too tight causes it to pull back up instead of letting the bobbin "catch" it.

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Odette C.

I will print and pin it on my bulletin board in my activity room Thanks

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Heather B.

Glad it's helpful! Thanks for letting us know.

~Heather
[email protected]

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PHYLLIS F.

I am looking for info on "big-eye" needles, which ones are they?

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Kirsten S.

Hi Phyllis,

Generally the larger shanked needles are the larger eyed needles: 14/90 16/10 are good for cotton and wool (and other thicker threads) mainly because they have large eyes, and the corresponding shank is also larger. Here's a video that you might find helpful. I've set it to begin at the eye section:


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Gina S.

Thank you for sharing! This will be a great help!

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Heather B.

That's great to hear, Gina. Thanks for the feedback.

~Heather
[email protected]

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Brenda G.

Thank you for the list of needles to use. Will help when I work on things. Thank you Happy Stitching

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Heather B.

You're sure welcome, Brenda. Thanks for the feedback.

~Heather
[email protected]

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