Schmetz SM Needles

How very nice to hear from our Teresa. Welcome home, Teresa, we left the
light on for you. Polly

"Teresa in Colorado" wrote in message
news
I used to be a 75/11 or 80/12 kind of gal. If the thread didn't work in
those needles, I just didn't use the thread! :-)
I also always used universal needles.

I figured this was all a quilter needed. Other needles were for people
who
actually sewed!

In the last three years, I've used a lot of different needles. Ballpoints
for knits on some projects (I've actually done non-quilting projects!),
Shapes for woven fabrics (including quilting), metallica needles for
specialty threads. I've used anything from a 60/10 to a 110/16. I've
tried
lots and lots of different threads and made them work instead of giving up
on them.

I still use an 80/12 for most projects, but I've switched to sharps
instead
of universals. I find I get better results with them, especially when
machine quilting.

I also learned a way to tell if a needle is right for a thread. You take
a
loose needle, thread it on a bit of the thread you intend to use. Then
you
hold the thread at a 45 degree angle with the needle on the top. Let the
needle slide down the thread. If it goes down rapidly, the needle is too
big. If it stays on top, the needle is too small. If it kind of dances
down the thread as you jiggle the thread, it's right.

Of course, nothing is cast in concrete :-) - there are no rules, no quilt
police! However, the technician is right. In general, a thicker thread
works better with a larger needle.
--
Teresa in Colorado

http://home.comcast.net/~treesaquilts
The Presser Foot in Longmont and Fort Collins, Colorado
www.thepresserfoot.com

Thanks! :-)
I'm going to switch it off now and head for bed. It's late.
Good Night Everyone!
--
Teresa in Colorado

http://home.comcast.net/~treesaquilts
The Presser Foot in Longmont and Fort Collins, Colorado
www.thepresserfoot.com
-

"Polly Esther" wrote in message
nk.net...
How very nice to hear from our Teresa. Welcome home, Teresa, we left the
light on for you. Polly

"Teresa in Colorado" wrote in message
news
I used to be a 75/11 or 80/12 kind of gal. If the thread didn't work in
those needles, I just didn't use the thread! :-)
I also always used universal needles.

I figured this was all a quilter needed. Other needles were for people
who
actually sewed!

In the last three years, I've used a lot of different needles.
Ballpoints
for knits on some projects (I've actually done non-quilting projects!),
Shapes for woven fabrics (including quilting), metallica needles for
specialty threads. I've used anything from a 60/10 to a 110/16. I've
tried
lots and lots of different threads and made them work instead of giving
up
on them.

I still use an 80/12 for most projects, but I've switched to sharps
instead
of universals. I find I get better results with them, especially when
machine quilting.

I also learned a way to tell if a needle is right for a thread. You
take
a
loose needle, thread it on a bit of the thread you intend to use. Then
you
hold the thread at a 45 degree angle with the needle on the top. Let
the
needle slide down the thread. If it goes down rapidly, the needle is
too
big. If it stays on top, the needle is too small. If it kind of dances
down the thread as you jiggle the thread, it's right.

Of course, nothing is cast in concrete :-) - there are no rules, no
quilt
police! However, the technician is right. In general, a thicker thread
works better with a larger needle.
--
Teresa in Colorado

http://home.comcast.net/~treesaquilts
The Presser Foot in Longmont and Fort Collins, Colorado
www.thepresserfoot.com

Johanna Gibson wrote:

On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 15:58:59 -0500, Pat in Virginia
wrote:


Earlier this month I had Pfilomina Pfaff serviced.
A message was included with the SM statement. I
think this information might be useful to anyone
who uses Schmetz needles. FYI:

"Your machine has a new Schmetz Universal 80/12
needle. This needle is used with Mettler
Silk-Finish or Metrosene thread. If you use Coats
& Clarks cotton-covered polyester thread, you need
to put in a Schmetz Universal 90/14 needle which
is a needle with a larger eye than the 80/12 as
the C&C thread is a thicker thread than the
Mettler thread."

No Affiliation, Yada Yada! PAT in VA/USA


Thank you for the information.
Didn't someone on RCTQ have a source where they bought Schmetz
needles by the truckload? Anyway, the prices were much better because
of some sort of bulk-buying. Where was the shop/website they
recommended?
Where is nzl* when you need her?


-- Jo in Scotland
I buy boxes of 100 from my local OSMG. They work out at about 18p each
rather than 25p each for the boxes of 5. Not a big saving per needle,
but when you get through a box a year, as I can, in several sizes, it
pays! I buy Rhein (who make Bernina's branded needles) and Schmetz.

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

I like the 100 packs because I don't have to worry about running out
or think about buying more so often. Lots less packaging too. Buy
them, throw them in with my accessories and I know they are there.
Taria

Kate Dicey wrote:


I buy boxes of 100 from my local OSMG. They work out at about 18p each
rather than 25p each for the boxes of 5. Not a big saving per needle,
but when you get through a box a year, as I can, in several sizes, it
pays! I buy Rhein (who make Bernina's branded needles) and Schmetz.

Howdy!
That's what our local sewing machine dealer says, too.
There was a mixed pack included during latest tune-up of my Janome.

Ragmop/Sandy

"Pat in Virginia" wrote in message
news:jCcKd.64180$Tf5.41572@lakeread03...
Earlier this month I had Pfilomina Pfaff serviced.
A message was included with the SM statement. I think this information
might be useful to anyone who uses Schmetz needles. FYI:

"Your machine has a new Schmetz Universal 80/12 needle. This needle is
used with Mettler Silk-Finish or Metrosene thread. If you use Coats &
Clarks cotton-covered polyester thread, you need to put in a Schmetz
Universal 90/14 needle which is a needle with a larger eye than the 80/12
as the C&C thread is a thicker thread than the Mettler thread."

No Affiliation, Yada Yada! PAT in VA/USA

My local supplier has just suggested I try Schmetz new
TOPTSTICH needle for using those larger threads for machine quilting.
It is a size 80/12 but has a larger eye!!! I'm quite keen to give it
a go soon, and I'll post how that works, unless someone here tries it
before me! :-)

Denise in Ontario, Canada

I've used it more than once and really like the ease of it. Makes quite a
difference as it seems 'sharper' going thru seam allowances. I've used it in
the bulkier area of shirt collars (point area with topstitching) and edges
on vests besides on quilts and haven't had a problem. Seems to last longer
than normal needles in that type of sewing.
HTH
Butterfly
"Denise Jameson in Ontario" wrote in message
...
My local supplier has just suggested I try Schmetz new
TOPTSTICH needle for using those larger threads for machine quilting.
It is a size 80/12 but has a larger eye!!! I'm quite keen to give it
a go soon, and I'll post how that works, unless someone here tries it
before me! :-)

Denise in Ontario, Canada