Choosing the right sewing machine needle can mean the difference between a good sewing product and a great one. Your choice of needles will usually start with the brand that makes the needles: brands like Schmetz, Singer and HoneySew all make a variety of different needles that you can choose from.
This article shall focus on Schmetz needles and try to figure out whether or not they are any good. Schmetz is a household name when it comes to sewing machine needles. Established in 1851, this family-owned company has built a reputation as the makers of high quality sewing needles.
So what makes their needles so special? Well, here is a closer look at some of their best products and the reasons why they stand out from the rest.
Table of Contents
1. 50 Schmetz Universal Sewing Machine Needles
These needles come as a set of 50 high-quality, durable universal needles. Even if you break one a week, they should last you almost a whole year.
The pack comes with five cards, each having 10 universal needles. Since they are universal, the needles can be used on lots of fabric options. However, they are not suitable for use on sturdy fabrics like denim and leather. Attempting to use them on these may lead to breakage.
The 50 Schmetz Universal Sewing Machine Needles pack uses the 130/705 needle system. This makes them compatible with most domestic sewing machines. The needle sizes are 70/10, 80/12, 90/14.
Each needle features a rounded tip that will easily slip through yarns and weaves without cutting through them. This makes them perfect for fabrics that unravel easily when cut. The only downside with this set is that needles for more robust materials are not included.
2. Schmetz Microtex Sewing Machine Needles
The Schmetz Microtex Sewing Machine Needle set features a set of highly reviewed needles that will work well with almost any household machine you have. Each package contains microtex needles of size 70/10, all sharps.
These needles are best-suited for microfibers, polyester, silk, artificial leather and coated materials. You’ll get 100 needles per box. They use the 130/705H needle systeem, which makes them compatible with most domestic sewing machines.
3. SCHMETZ Universal – size 90/14
The SCHMETZ Universal – Size 90/14 is a needle set that can be used with a wide range of home sewing machines. They come in a simple box containing all the needles.
The Schmetz Universal 90/14 uses the 130/705H(15×1) needle system, making these needles compatible with almost all household sewing machines. They are universal needles as well, which will allow you to work with a lot of different types of woven fabrics.
This needle type is designed for finely woven fabric like silk. They come as a set of 100 needles with a medium sharp point and a flat top. They also have a visible groove in the eye area.
4. SCHMETZ Universal – Size 75/11
This is yet another bulk pack of needles from SCHMETZ. Just like the size 90/14, you’ll also get a pack of 100 needles. The needles are all universal, which opens up your fabric options while using them.
However, these needles do not perform well with heavier fabric. They will break when used with denim, corduroy, and anything as heavy or heavier.
This needles have been specially designed to help you layer fabrics. They feature a rounded needlepoint that will prevent any damage to threads that may cause yarns to unravel.
They, too, use the 130/705H(15×1) needle system, which makes them compatible with all household sewing machines.
5. Euro-Notions Universal Machine Needles, 10-Piece
These needles have a slightly curved tip which makes them ideal for different types of fabrics. They are also high quality and very durable. They are compatible with a wide range of sewing machines and are beginner-friendly. They come in a compact, space-saving box that is small enough to fit in the storage compartment of any sewing machine.
They are best suited for woven and knitted fabric. They will also work well with leather and some other heavier material projects. They are convenient to use as well, featuring a color code that will allow you to easily track the different needle types.
On the downside, they can only withstand so much heavy usage. If you push them to hard, they are prone to breakage.
6. Euro-Notions 1783 Jean & Denim Machine Needles
These sewing machine needles are for jeans, denim and other tightly woven fabrics. They work with all the leading sewing machine brands.
They come in needle size 18/110, 5 per pack. Although they are specially designed for jeans and denim, they will also work really well for vinyl, artificial leather, and any waxed cloth.
These needles will also stay sharp for a really long time. Their only downside is that they will not fit some Singer machine models.
What to consider when choosing a sewing machine needle
- Purpose – The first thing you have to think about is your reasons for actually needing the needles. What do you plan to work on? What fabric types? Keep in mind that different needle types have different shaped tips to best penetrate different types of fabric. For instance, leather-specialized needles are sharper than most other types.
- Needle types – As you choose your needle packs, you also want to go for variety. Go for needle packs with different needle types in them. Getting an assortment of needle gives you a variety of needle types to experiment with. This is really great especially if you work with several fabrics simultaneously.
- Needle lifespan – The needles you get should be sturdy and durable. Sure, they may be some of the least expensive components in a sewing project, but you still want to go for quality over quantity whenever you can. Normally, needles have a lifespan of six to seven hours of sewing time. You want to make sure that your needles can be used for this entire time without forcing you to deal with any issues that might slow you down like breakages or becoming blunt. Broken and blunt needles will ruin your project.
- Budget – You also have to consider your budget. Different needle types are priced differently. When starting on a sewing project there are many things to buy. You have to get your fabrics, thread, cutting tools and more. Just remember that every piece of equipment is as important as the next. Schmetz needles offer value for money especially if you go for their bulk packs.
- The sewing machine you are using – Whenever you are choosing sewing machine needles, make sure that they are compatible with the sewing machine you want to use them on. Luckily, most Schmetz sewing machine needles are fully compatible with most sewing machine models, so you won’t have to worry too much about this.
Other Considerations
Some other considerations you might have to make include things like your personal brand preference. For most people, this depends on their sewing style and their machine of choice. There are a lot of brands on the market today. It is a good idea to experiment with all the different choices to find out what works for you and your sewing machine.
Everyone is different. Some people swear by one needle brand while others keep changing things up. Everyone has their preferences. Plus, different needles types and brands work differently depending on the machines they are used on and the projects they are used for.
If you are having issues with a particular needle brand, consider switching things up a bit by trying a different brand or using a different needle size to see how that works.
Final Thoughts
So, are Schmetz needles any good? Yes, they are. As you have seen, they have a wide variety of options to choose from. Plus, they make high quality needles that when used for their intended purposes, should serve you well for a long time.
