A needle is a crucial component in any machine, and the way you stitch your fabric highly depend upon the way you choose the right needle.
There are two main things that you will need to determine
- The right size or thickness of the needle with the help of its number
- The tip according to your fabric in process
These two factors are determined on the basis of the weight and type of the fabric that you have to sew.
If you have got a light weight cloth that is not very thick, then you can use a thin needle with a lower number value. While if you have a slightly thicker fabric, then choosing a thick needle with a greater number value would be your best shot.
Though the exact number of the needle that you should choose can be determined with the help of the guide given along your sewing machine or the needle box.
The tip of the needle is also very important. As the needle would be able to enter or pierce through the fabric only, when it has the capability to pass through the fabric easily. Like sharp pointed and thin needles are best to be used for light weight and thin fabrics. While round tip needle with a slightly thicker body would be best for sewing knitted fabrics or jersey cloth.
In addition to it, you can also get specialized needles for various specialized tasks, like stitching a denim piece or sewing a quilt or very thick surfaced cloth.