Sewing Machine Needles: Twin & Triple Part B

On more thing about Twin needles - they are available in a variety of needle widths and sizes.  Below is a pack of 3 Universal Twin needles, just like you would find in your local store.  Look at the bottom of the needle pack and you see 1.6/70, 2.0/80, 3.0/90.  The first number indicates the stitch distance between the needles, so 1.6mm between the needles will stitch narrow parallel lines.  The 70 refers to the needle size, so size 70.  

Universal Twin needles have the widest assortment of stitch widths and needle sizes:  1.6/70, 1.6/80, 2.0/80, 2.5/80, 3.0/90, 4.0/80, 4.0/90, 4.0/100, 6.0/100, 8.0/100. 

Denim Twin:  4.0/100

Embroidery Twin:  2.0/75, 3.0/75

Hemstitch Twin:  2.5/100 

Metallic Twin:  2.5/80, 3.0/90

Stretch:  2.5/75 4.0/75

Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

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Sewing Machine Needles: Twin & Triple Part A

Looking to jazz up your sewing?  Try stitching with a Twin or Triple needle.  Twin needles are sometimes called Double needles.  Two like needles mounted on a single needle bar with a single shank.  Twin needles are available in Denim, Embroidery, Metallic, Stretch and Universal.   

A Triple needle is sometimes called a Drilling needle.  Three Universal needles mounted on a single needle bar with a single shank to create three rows of parallel stitches.  With the Twin and Triple needles, two or three rows, respectfully, of stitches are created.  Miss-stitch . . .  and you have a lot of ripping out to do.

With every rule there is an exception.  This time it is the Double Hemstitch (Wing) needle.  There is no way you could get the width of two Hemstitch needles past your needle plate, so a Hemstitch needle is married up with a Universal needle. 

Hmmm, this brings up an important point . . . make sure your needle plate can accommodate the width of your twin needle and your stitches.  Use two spools of thread - or three if using the Triple needle - with your single bobbin.  Have some fun and use different colors of thread.  Twin needles can be used with decorative stitches and certainly with straight stitches, but again make sure your needle plate is wide enough.  Otherwise, what's the result?  A broken needle.

Happy, happy creative stitching!
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

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