Denim is the most common fabric that most people wear, and most importantly, it is one of the sturdier materials ever.
So to sew it properly, you don’t only need the best sewing machine, but it should have a right-sized and tough needle with sharp points so that it can penetrate through denim effortlessly
So when dealing with denim, the chances of needle breakage may double, leading to skipped stitches, sewing machine jamming, etc.
To answer your primary concern, the sewing machine needle size for denim is around 70/10 to 90/14 for light denim and 100/16 for heavy denim and 110/18 for very thick denim.
But let’s bust more about sewing machine needles for sewing denim.
What is a denim needle?
A denim needle is a specialized needle used primarily to use heavy fabrics like denim to make jeans.
Denim needles are extremely tough with big EYE and sharp POINT so that they can penetrate through denim easily without needle deflection.
What Size Sewing Machine Needle for Denim is Perfect?
However, double-check your machine’s compatibility for denim, like tough fabric stitching. You can also check our guides on the best sewing machines for canvas and leather holsters.
To know it, first of all, you should be able to identify its body structure, different available sizes, etc.
1. Denim Needle Basics
As you are here to know What Size Sewing Machine Needle for Denim is? Sewing machine needles for denim are thick and SHARP-POINTED with a tough SHAFT and wider EYE for sewing canvas, leather, and other heavy woven fabrics.
You can also use these needles to sew patches on jeans with your sewing machine and sew multiple layers of fabrics easily without fear of needle breakage and deflection.
Using tough sewing needles, you can stitch your jeans and upholstery and run through the heaviest fabrics.
2. Knowing the exact size
Choosing the right size needle for sewing denim jeans is more complex than you think. Because it depends upon the thickness of the denim as well. Needle size 70/10 to 90/14 is perfect for light denim fabrics. However, for thick denim materials, you may need a needle size of 110/16; for very thick ones, 100/18 is the best size.
Can I Use a Regular Sewing Machine Needle For Denim?
Most sewers are aware of regular sewing machine needles, and in most cases, they use those needles to sew denim, but as a result, their needles are bent.
So, you cannot use regular needles for denim as it is a tougher fabric. So always use a denim-specific needle because they have an extremely sharp end with a thicker and more robust shaft than a standard needle. Due to this reason, these needles will easily penetrate and sew denim.
Especially working on jeans or denim, the sewers avoid constant needle bends and breaks along with no skipped stitches and fabric snags.
Therefore, always choose the correct sized and compatible needle for your sewing machine to ensure smooth stitching of denim and other hard stuff.
Want to know how to do smocking on a sewing machine? Find here.
Final Thoughts
Sewing a fabric needs a proper needle to perform your job. But when it comes to the toughest fabric like denim, you should go for a denim needle but make sure you know exactly what size sewing machine needles for denim is perfect.
So if you select the right needle, your work will be smoother like butter. Thanks…
THE END
FAQs: Your Common Concerns
What tension should I use for denim?
To prevent your stitching from appearing too sturdy, use a lighter-weight thread and keep the tension around 6 until you finish stitching.
However, if it becomes too high, it might cause the top stitch to droop.
And around 6, the bobbin stitches stay clear, but increased tension causes the bobbin to cease to improve substantially.
Can you use a universal needle for denim?
It would be best if you used a needle explicitly designed for the fabric you are working with.
However, you can use a size 18 universal needle for stitching denim, but it’s better to use an 18-sized needle for jeans (or specific sewing machine needles for heavy denim).
What kind of stitch is used for jeans?
The chain link stitch is a great way to add an interesting texture and visual appeal to denim.
A chain link stitch has an intriguing flowing pattern as you go down opposing sides with little knots at regular intervals, which creates this excellent roping effect on jeans.
However, other stitches used to sew jeans include straight and zigzag stitches. These stitches are mainly used to finish the seams of your jeans.
Do I need a special needle to sew denim?
Yes, it’s important to choose the right-sized needle to stitch denim. And selecting needle size depends on the fabric thickness.
For instance, hemming through light denim or jeans, a 90/14 sized needle will do the job, but for heavy and thick denim, you would be required to shift your sewing machine needle size to 110/18.