Do sewing machine needles really matter?

If you’re new to sewing, you might not even realize there are different kinds of needles. But yes - the needle you use makes a big difference in how your fabric sews.

👩‍🏫 Why it matters

The wrong needle can cause skipped stitches, broken thread, or even holes in your fabric.
A worn-out needle can make your sewing look messy, even if you’re doing everything right.

🧵 The basics you need to know as a beginner:

There are two main fabric types:

→ Woven / non-stretchy fabrics (like cotton and denim) → Use a Universal needle.

→ Stretchy fabrics (like t-shirts and leggings) → Use a Jersey/Stretch needle.

That’s it! You don’t need to know all the others yet, this is a good enough start!

💡 Beginner tip if you're not sure what to choose:

Start with Universal size 90 for cottons.
Start with Jersey size 80 for stretchy clothes.
If your stitches skip, your fabric snags, or your thread keeps breaking → it’s usually the needle, so swap it out.

How often to change the needle? Just like a knife or pair of scissors, a needle will dull with use. Most 'experts' recommend changing every 8 hours of sewing... BUT, most of us aren't keeping track of our sewing in that way 🙃 So a good alternative to this:

✅ Change when you change fabric types (new fabric = new needle)

✅ Change it if you experience issues like skipped stitches, bunching of thread or thread breaking

👉 I’ve made a video lesson that shows you the different types of needles up close, and there’s also a printable download to guide you.

>>>Both are waiting for you HERE inside the classroom<<<

7 comments