Schmetz

Schmetz is a German manufacturer of sewing machine needles, founded in 1851. They produce needles for home sewing machines, sergers, embroidery machines, and industrial equipment. Schmetz needles are the most widely used brand in the sewing industry and are compatible with nearly all home sewing machine brands including Singer, Brother, Baby Lock, Bernina, Pfaff, Janome, Husqvarna Viking, and Juki.

Match the needle type to your fabric. The most common types are:

• Universal: General purpose for woven fabrics like cotton, linen, and blends.
• Ball Point/Jersey: Rounded tip that slides between knit fibers instead of piercing them. Use for T-shirt fabric, jersey, and stretch knits.
• Stretch: Designed for highly elastic fabrics like lycra and spandex. Prevents skipped stitches.
• Denim/Jeans: Reinforced for heavy wovens like denim, canvas, and duck cloth.
• Microtex/Sharp: Extra-sharp point for fine wovens, silk, and microfiber.

Schmetz needles are labeled with two numbers separated by a slash, like 80/12. The first number (80) is the European metric size, measuring the needle shaft diameter in hundredths of a millimeter. The second number (12) is the American size. Both refer to the same needle. Lower numbers mean thinner needles for lighter fabrics. Higher numbers mean thicker needles for heavier fabrics. Common sizes range from 70/10 (fine) to 110/18 (heavy duty).

Replace your needle after every 6 to 8 hours of sewing, or at the start of each new project. A dull or damaged needle causes skipped stitches, thread breakage, snagged fabric, and uneven tension. Needles wear faster on heavy fabrics and synthetic materials. If you notice any of these symptoms mid-project, try changing your needle. It solves the problem more often than most sewists expect.

Schmetz Super Nonstick needles have a special coating that prevents adhesive buildup on the needle shaft. They are designed for sewing with fusible web, sticky stabilizers, adhesive-backed embroidery stabilizers, and fabrics treated with temporary spray adhesive. Without the nonstick coating, residue gums up the needle and can cause thread breakage and skipped stitches.