Sewing machine needle size and type selector
Reviewed 3 primary sourcesSee sources
Choose a starting needle type and size for your fabric and thread, using Janome’s reference tables and SCHMETZ’s needle guidance. Match the thread to Janome’s # labels below; wt, Tex and denier labels are not converted. Your machine’s manual sets the needle system and allowed sizes.
Find a needle
How the selector works
It keeps sizes shared by Janome’s fabric and thread tables, checks that SCHMETZ offers the needle type in that size, then applies your machine’s size limit. A shared size is a starting point to test, not a promise of fit.[1][3]
Fabric and needle chart
| Fabric | Needle type to consider | Fabric chart sizes (European / US) |
|---|---|---|
| Light silk or fine woven fabric | Microtex[2] | 70/10, 75/11, 80/12[1] |
| Light jersey knit | Jersey / ball point[2] | 70/10, 75/11, 80/12[1] |
| Light, highly stretchy knit | Stretch[3] | 70/10, 75/11, 80/12[1] |
| Medium woven cotton or linen | Universal[2] | 90/14[1] |
| Medium double knit | Jersey / ball point[2] | 90/14[1] |
| Heavy denim or canvas | Jeans / denim[2] | 100/16[1] |
Thread chart
These are the # labels and US needle-size ranges printed in Janome’s chart. Wt, Tex and denier are not interchangeable with these labels. This selector does not convert them.
| Thread in Janome’s chart | US needle-size range |
|---|---|
| Cotton, #40 | 14–19[1] |
| Cotton, #30 | 16–21[1] |
| Spun polyester, #40 | 12–18[1] |
| Spun polyester, #30 | 14–19[1] |
| Filament polyester, #40 | 11–16[1] |
| Filament polyester, #30 | 14–20[1] |
| Filament nylon, #40 | 11–14[1] |
| Filament nylon, #30 | 16–19[1] |
System, type and size
- 130/705 H names a needle system, not a needle size. A machine using 705 B, ELX705, an industrial system or another needle system is outside this selector. Similar-looking needles are not proof of compatibility.[3]
- Janome’s card recommends US sizes 9–16 for its machines and tells readers to check their manual’s maximum. This selector supports the listed European/US pairs only; it does not certify fit for a machine from a selected upper limit.[1]
- The #40 and #30 thread rows are taken as printed in Janome’s chart, with cotton, spun polyester, filament polyester and filament nylon kept separate. Other numbers and labeling systems are not inferred.[1]
- Needle size depends on both fabric and thread. The result is the overlap of the reviewed guidance; no overlap means this tool cannot give a size, not that no sewing technique can work.[2]
Looking for your machine’s bobbin or needle details? Use the model reference.
Sources
Fabric and thread sizes come from Janome’s reference cards; needle-type and system guidance comes from SCHMETZ. The selector combines these guides as a starting point. Check your machine and thread instructions.
- Sewing Reference CardsJanome Canada · PDF page 2: fabric/needle size table and machine-size limit; PDF page 5: Thread Thickness vs. Needle Size (#40 / #30 columns) · retrieved
- How to pick the correct sewing machine needleSCHMETZneedles (Euro-notions) · Choosing a Needle; Ball Point, Denim/Jeans, Microtex and Universal sections · retrieved
- Needle basics and fit questionsSCHMETZneedles (Euro-notions) · What is 130/705H?; ELX705; 705 B versus 130/705 H; knit fabric weight / Jersey and Stretch sizes; testing thread fit · retrieved
Primary publishers: Janome Canada, SCHMETZneedles (Euro-notions). Spotted an error? Email the address in the footer with the model and the document you are using.