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Sewing Needles

June E Hudspeth
 

Hi Everyone:

 

This is probably a silly question, but I’m truly puzzled.

 

Is there a way to determine “what size” a needle is?  Most of my needle cases have the number printed on the outside.  But, for some reason, this particular case does not and I can’t figure out how to tell what size they are?

 

Thanks for any help/assistance.

 

June

Sacramento

Jim Stutsman
 

The traditional size numbers (e.g. 11, 12, 14) are actually measurements of the needle's diameter in millimeters. So a size 14 is 1.4mm. I'm assuming you don't have access to a metric micrometer, so here's another option. Since you do have other needles of known size, you could use them to measure. Take a known size and push it through a piece of paper. Then take a mystery needle and put just the tip of it in the hole in the paper. If it passes through easily, you know the size. If not repeat with a smaller needle of known size. Not terribly accurate, but easy and cheap!

Carolyn Gazerro
 


It should be imbedded on shank of needle.  

From: onlinesewing-janome@groups.io <onlinesewing-janome@groups.io> on behalf of June E Hudspeth <juneeh@...>
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023 4:44:01 PM
To: onlinesewing-janome@groups.io <onlinesewing-janome@groups.io>
Subject: [onlinesewing-janome] Sewing Needles
 

Hi Everyone:

 

This is probably a silly question, but I’m truly puzzled.

 

Is there a way to determine “what size” a needle is?  Most of my needle cases have the number printed on the outside.  But, for some reason, this particular case does not and I can’t figure out how to tell what size they are?

 

Thanks for any help/assistance.

 

June

Sacramento

June E Hudspeth
 

WOW, what a great idea!

 

You are sooooooooooooooo smart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks Jim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

From: onlinesewing-janome@groups.io <onlinesewing-janome@groups.io> On Behalf Of Jim Stutsman via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023 2:07 PM
To: onlinesewing-janome@groups.io
Subject: Re: [onlinesewing-janome] Sewing Needles

 

The traditional size numbers (e.g. 11, 12, 14) are actually measurements of the needle's diameter in millimeters. So a size 14 is 1.4mm. I'm assuming you don't have access to a metric micrometer, so here's another option. Since you do have other needles of known size, you could use them to measure. Take a known size and push it through a piece of paper. Then take a mystery needle and put just the tip of it in the hole in the paper. If it passes through easily, you know the size. If not repeat with a smaller needle of known size. Not terribly accurate, but easy and cheap!

Kathy Strabel
 

Aren't needles identified by numbers etched into the upper shaft  that gets inserted into the needle bar? I believe every needle I have ever used is marked like this. Now, in times past, the little plastic containers that the needles come in, had a magnifier built into the clear part of the container. But for some years  now, I have not seen this  type of packaging anymore. It takes a pretty strong magnifying glass to read the numbers etched into the needles. Some manufacturers color-code needles with one color for the type of needle (sharps, ballpoint, etc,) and a second color band for the size of the needle. These color bands are right on the needle itself. I know that Schmetz puts out a color key that you can probably find online. Of course, different companies probably use different color combinations.  Hope that helps
Kathy Strabel

June E Hudspeth
 

Thanks Kathy!

 

Truly appreciate the info, very helpful.

 

The ends of a couple needles are “blue”; I’ll look that up.

 

Thanks again.

 

From: onlinesewing-janome@groups.io <onlinesewing-janome@groups.io> On Behalf Of Kathy Strabel
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023 5:15 PM
To: onlinesewing-janome@groups.io
Subject: Re: [onlinesewing-janome] Sewing Needles

 

Aren't needles identified by numbers etched into the upper shaft  that gets inserted into the needle bar? I believe every needle I have ever used is marked like this. Now, in times past, the little plastic containers that the needles come in, had a magnifier built into the clear part of the container. But for some years  now, I have not seen this  type of packaging anymore. It takes a pretty strong magnifying glass to read the numbers etched into the needles. Some manufacturers color-code needles with one color for the type of needle (sharps, ballpoint, etc,) and a second color band for the size of the needle. These color bands are right on the needle itself. I know that Schmetz puts out a color key that you can probably find online. Of course, different companies probably use different color combinations.  Hope that helps
Kathy Strabel

Cat - N
 

I remember the magnifiers…oh my…I had forgotten about that!!!

I have Janome color coded needles and Kenmore color coded needles (for my Kenmore manufactured by Janome), but I have mostly Organ needles now. So I take a sharpie marker…red…blue…purple…etc…and color across the shanks of all the Organ needles while still in the package…and write on the little paper envelope what ‘Janome’ needles are inside…so they match my Janome counterparts.  It’s much easier for me now that I’ve got the astigmatism and my vision isn’t as great as it once was. 


- Cat

Typos courtesy of autocorrect. 




On Feb 16, 2023 at 8:14 PM, <Kathy Strabel> wrote:

Aren't needles identified by numbers etched into the upper shaft  that gets inserted into the needle bar? I believe every needle I have ever used is marked like this. Now, in times past, the little plastic containers that the needles come in, had a magnifier built into the clear part of the container. But for some years  now, I have not seen this  type of packaging anymore. It takes a pretty strong magnifying glass to read the numbers etched into the needles. Some manufacturers color-code needles with one color for the type of needle (sharps, ballpoint, etc,) and a second color band for the size of the needle. These color bands are right on the needle itself. I know that Schmetz puts out a color key that you can probably find online. Of course, different companies probably use different color combinations.  Hope that helps
Kathy Strabel
_._,_._,_

June E Hudspeth
 

Thanks Cat!

 

A couple of the needles are “blue” on the tips.  I believe they are Organ needles, have no idea why there are no markings on the case; unless it “went away” after some years of sitting?

 

Thanks for the tips, great ideas.  Truly appreciate it.

 

June

 

From: onlinesewing-janome@groups.io <onlinesewing-janome@groups.io> On Behalf Of Cat - N via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023 6:31 PM
To: Onlinesewing-Janome <onlinesewing-janome@groups.io>
Subject: Re: [onlinesewing-janome] Sewing Needles

 

I remember the magnifiers…oh my…I had forgotten about that!!!

 

I have Janome color coded needles and Kenmore color coded needles (for my Kenmore manufactured by Janome), but I have mostly Organ needles now. So I take a sharpie marker…red…blue…purple…etc…and color across the shanks of all the Organ needles while still in the package…and write on the little paper envelope what ‘Janome’ needles are inside…so they match my Janome counterparts.  It’s much easier for me now that I’ve got the astigmatism and my vision isn’t as great as it once was. 

 

 

- Cat

 

Typos courtesy of autocorrect. 

 




On Feb 16, 2023 at 8:14 PM, <Kathy Strabel> wrote:

Aren't needles identified by numbers etched into the upper shaft  that gets inserted into the needle bar? I believe every needle I have ever used is marked like this. Now, in times past, the little plastic containers that the needles come in, had a magnifier built into the clear part of the container. But for some years  now, I have not seen this  type of packaging anymore. It takes a pretty strong magnifying glass to read the numbers etched into the needles. Some manufacturers color-code needles with one color for the type of needle (sharps, ballpoint, etc,) and a second color band for the size of the needle. These color bands are right on the needle itself. I know that Schmetz puts out a color key that you can probably find online. Of course, different companies probably use different color combinations.  Hope that helps
Kathy Strabel

Fiona Taylor-Williams
 

Not to sound dumb but which Janome needle color goes with which needle size?
Fiona

wlstarn@aol.com
 

Here's a pdf with janome needle info:
Sewing Basics - Know Your Needles - Janome https://www.janome.com/siteassets/blog/2016/sewing-basics-1.pdf


On Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM, Fiona Taylor-Williams
<f.taylorwilliams@...> wrote:
Not to sound dumb but which Janome needle color goes with which needle size?
Fiona





June E Hudspeth
 

OMG, wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

From: onlinesewing-janome@groups.io <onlinesewing-janome@groups.io> On Behalf Of wlstarn@... via groups.io
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2023 9:02 AM
To: Onlinesewing-Janome <onlinesewing-janome@groups.io>
Subject: Re: [onlinesewing-janome] Sewing Needles

 

Here's a pdf with janome needle info:

Sewing Basics - Know Your Needles - Janome https://www.janome.com/siteassets/blog/2016/sewing-basics-1.pdf

 

On Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM, Fiona Taylor-Williams

Not to sound dumb but which Janome needle color goes with which needle size?

Fiona

 

 

 

 

 

Fiona Taylor-Williams
 

Thank you.

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