About The Needle; Fabric/Thread/Needle Combinations - Brother ULT-2002D Operation Manual

About the Needle

The sewing machine needle is probably the most important part of the sewing machine. Choosing
the proper needle for your sewing project will result in a beautiful finish and fewer problems.
Below are some things to keep in mind about needles.
• The smaller the needle number, the smaller the needle. As the numbers increase, the needles
get thicker.
• Use fine needles with lightweight fabrics, and thicker needles with heavyweight fabrics.
• To avoid skipped stitches, use ball point needle (golden colored) 90/14 with stretch fabrics.
• To avoid skipped stitches, use ball point needle (golden colored) 90/14 when sewing character
or decorative stitches without the embroidery unit.
• Use needle 75/11 for embroidery. Ball point needles (golden colored) 90/14 are not recom-
mended for embroidery, as they may bend or break, causing injury.
• It is recommended that a 90/14 needle should be used when embroidering on heavyweight
fabrics or stabilizing products (for example, denim, puffy foam, etc.). 75/11 needle may bend
or break, which could result in injury.
• A home sewing machine needle 75/11 is inserted in the sewing machine.

Fabric/Thread/Needle Combinations

Fabric
Medium weight fabric
Lightweight fabric
Heavyweight fabric
Stretch fabric
For top stitching
Note
• For transparent nylon thread, always use needle 90/14 - 100/16.
• The same thread is usually used for the bobbin thread and upper threading.
CAUTION
Be sure to follow the needle, thread, and fabric combinations listed in the table. Using an
improper combination, especially a heavyweight fabric (i.e., denim) with a small needle
(i.e., 65/9 - 75/11), may cause the needle to bend or break, and lead to injury. Also, the
seam may be uneven, the fabric may pucker, or the machine may skip stitches.
Broadcloth Cotton
Taffeta Synthetic mercerized
Flannel, Silk or silk finished
Gabardine
Lawn, Batiste Cotton
Georgette Synthetic mercerized
Challis, Satin Silk
Denim Cotton
Corduroy Synthetic mercerized
Tweed Silk
Jersey Thread for knits
Tricot
Synthetic mercerized
Silk
Setting Up
Thread
Type Size
60 - 80
60 - 80
50 - 80
60 - 80
60 - 80
50 - 80
30 - 50
50
50
50 - 60
30
30
Size of needle
75/11 - 90/14
65/9 - 75/11
90/14 - 100/16
Ball point needle
(golden colored)
75/11 - 90/14
90/14 - 100/16
1-45
1 —
2 —
3 —
4 —
5 —
6 —
7 —
8 —
9 —