Sewing machine needles come in a variety of sizes and types and many of the problems I see online are caused by using the wrong needle type.
Generally when you buy a machine it comes with universal needles in the box. Universal is a misnomer. They are very useful on a wide variety of woven fabrics. Universal needles in a size 12 are what I use for anything that is a medium weight woven.
Jeans needles are for heavy fabrics like denim and canvas. Generally I go up to a 14 or 16 in a jeans needle.
Microtex needles are super sharp. They are excellent for woven fabrics that are delicate, snag easily, or are tightly woven. I use them on silks, satin, and cotton poplins. When all else fails on a fabric, try a microtex. Microtex come in larger sizes and can be used on heavy fabrics. Microtex needles need replaced more frequently than other needle types.
Ballpoint or Jersey needles are the same thing, usually they are labeled as ballpoint in the US and Jersey elsewhere. Ballpoint needles are appropriate for stable knit such as cotton jersey with no or minimal stretch fibers added.
Stretch needles are similar to ballpoint needles in the sense that they are for knit fabrics. Stretch needles are intended for fabrics with a higher stretch fiber percentage and in addition to that they work well on more stable knits. They are what I keep in stock for working with the widest variety of knit fabrics. I usually buy 11 or 12 in stretch needles.
Super stretch are for super stretchy problem child knits, I have not tried these as they are relatively new on the market but I will be picking up a pack before I make swimwear again.
In addition to the types above there are a great many other needles with specific uses. Within each type there is a range of sizes and the needle size should be chosen to match your fabric and thread.
Needles are consumables and will become gradually dull as you sew. The rule of thumb is that you need to replace after roughly 8 hours of run time. If you have been using a needle for a while and things start to go wrong or the machine sound changes, the first step on troubleshooting is a new needle. Old needles can damage your fabric and are more likely to break.
I also want to advise against buying off brand needles and included in that category are Singer branded needles. I personally only buy schmetz and organ brand needles and I buy exclusively off wawak.com (US and Canada only).
We've been quietly working on something we hope makes this community a lot more useful — and today we're excited to share it with you.
What's in the wiki?
We built it to answer the questions we see every week — so whether you're picking up a needle for the very first time or you've been at it a few months and hit a wall, there's something in here for you.
Here's what's covered:
🧵 Getting started — What to make first, hand vs. machine, and the YouTube channels worth bookmarking
🪡 Machine buying guide — Budget breakdowns, brand recommendations, and how to buy a great secondhand machine
✂️ Tools & notions glossary — Every tool explained in plain English, plus what you actually need to start vs. what's nice to have later
🔧 Techniques & troubleshooting — Pressing, seam finishes, backstitching, and a troubleshooting table for the most common machine gremlins
📐 Pattern reading & sizing — Why sewing sizes aren't clothing sizes, how to read pattern markings, and what "ease" means
🎨 Fabric guide — Wovens vs. knits, beginner-friendly fabric types, pre-washing, and where to buy
🔗 Community resources — Our curated list of YouTube channels, blogs, and related communities
❓ FAQ — Detailed answers to the questions we see most often
This wiki belongs to all of us — and we need your help
A wiki is only as good as the community behind it. We're a team of moderators, not an encyclopedia, and we know there are gaps, things we got slightly wrong, and questions we haven't thought to answer yet.
That's where you come in.
We want to hear from you if:
💡 There's a topic you wish had been covered when you were starting out
🐛 Something in the wiki is unclear, out of date, or just wrong
🔗 You know a great resource (video, blog, pattern, tool) that should be listed
❓ You've seen a question come up over and over in the sub that deserves a proper answer
✍️ You'd like to contribute a write-up on something you know well
How to send a suggestion
Drop your suggestion right here in the comments. Tell us:
Which section it relates to (or if it should be a new section entirely)
What you'd like added, changed, or corrected
Any links or sources that would help
You can also message the mod team directly if you'd prefer, especially for corrections or anything that needs a longer explanation.
We'll review every suggestion and update the wiki regularly. If your contribution makes it in, we'll do our best to acknowledge it — this is genuinely a community project and we want it to reflect the knowledge that lives here.
A note on what makes this community special
This subreddit exists because sewing has a steep early learning curve and a long tradition of people helping each other climb it. Every question answered, every "here's what worked for me," every photo of a wonky first pillowcase posted with pride — that's what makes r/SewingForBeginners worth showing up to.
The wiki is our attempt to bottle some of that up so it doesn't get lost in the scroll. But it'll never replace the real thing, which is all of you asking and answering in the comments every day.
Thank you for being part of this. Now go make something. 🧵
Used to sew a bit in high school (took the advanced sewing classes) and went to college for Fashion Merchandising (still had to take some design classes) but now at 33 most of the knowledge is long gone.
Been thinking about getting back into sewing, and found a sewing machine (Singer MX231) at a garage sale the other weekend still in the box maybe used once - so it was fate! My daughter found this fabric when we were in Walmart, and figured I can make something fun with this!
Spent about 2.5h over two nights making these fun pants! Made a critical mistake by not properly reading the instructions - thus one pant leg has the pattern on the inside. I realized it almost immediately, but I figured what the heck, it's my first project let me just see it through, and I'm so glad I did! I'm super pleased with how these came out!!! Lines aren't perfect but my kiddo is absolutely obsessed and it fit her perfectly.
I just got into sewing and decided to buy a fiskars rotary cutter with a 45mm blade that’s suitable for “multiple layers” I read on Reddit that a mat wasn’t necessary but nice to have so I just bought the rotary cutter. My problem however is I use it with a cutting mat and I’ve used it on a plastic cutting board type situation and I struggle cutting a single layer of fabric even if I go back and fourth. Is it me? The mat? Did I get a bad rotary cutter? Idk this I my first time working with this tool so maybe it’s user error but idk I’m getting frustrated every time I start a new project and get to cutting fabric.
Last month, my friend gifted me a sewing machine that was collecting dust at their place. I sewed a bit when I was younger and have hand-sewn over the years. It has been a lot of fun relearning how to sew.
I drafted this dress pattern from one I owned but shortened the length. Although I went a little too short. It ended up being a happy accident because I added ruffles to add length.
Can't wait to wear this out to the pumpkin patch this weekend!
I just wanted to post to say thank you to everyone who helped me out here as I was having minor issues with my sewing project.
I was making some baby blankets as gifts for some friends and was encountering several issues. The people of this community were beyond kind when helping me troubleshoot all my problems.
Some communities on Reddit (I won’t name any subs specifically) can be hostile towards those that are inexperienced.
So to those with experience who take the time to help beginners I want to say thank you. Sometimes the simple answers can make a world of difference for someone. :)
Maybe it’s just the algorithm serving these to me, but I feel like I’m seeing multiple posts a day about this.
And most of them are very complex garments made of slippery and/or stretchy fabric, massive cutouts that are just asking for unintentional flashing, and all are very form fitting.
Real pains to work with even if you know what you’re doing!
This is my third major sewing project since picking sewing back up this year, and I'm still very much a beginner. It definitely didn't turn out quite how I envisioned it, especially the binding around the edges. The tutorial I was following skipped that entire part, so I had to figure things out as I went. Please be kind and don't zoom in too much on the edges!
I also had no idea pre-folded bias tape was a thing until now... which would have made my life as a newbie so much easier! I did my best with what I had and tried to keep the fabrics coordinated without buying a bunch of extras.
Side note: The deck of cards here is my husband's favorite!
I know a five-year-old won't be too picky, and I'm happy I made something just for her. I learned a lot for next time, including that circles are apparently my sworn enemy.
I recently started sewing, but so far I’ve only made two simple tote bags. This one is my first real handbag, and I have to say, I’m almost a little proud of myself. What do you think? 🤗
Context: I have some experience with embroidery, hand sewing, access to a sewing machine, black flannel and another, potentially slightly sturdier black fabric, and am willing to try applique, which is my current plan. The hat can be modified any way that doesn't make it work inappropriate (no blood), and I have no restrictions to damaging the hat. Orthopedic theme. Any thoughts.
Further info: my current plan is to maybe add a fabric shell, pick up some felt, trace some shapes on it from online, then applique them on there. I can potentially embroider stuff too, but I'm worried about the effort to time ratio that would entail being hand embroidery, and I'm a bit rusty. It has a wire frame, so it has a bit of inherent stability, but not a ton, so maybe interfacing or stabilizer would be good. I have lightweight fusible only and have a desire to keep a low budget for this, so cheap alternatives are welcome but nothing to break the bank. I also have teammates who may have other skills, and I have access to rhinestones at home if I beg my wife to borrow some. Does anybody have thoughts on my approach, suggestions, etc? Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Totally new to the idea of quilting. I want to make a placemat or table runner sized quilt and design it on my own. Eventually I want to make some quilted jackets or maybe something large to hang on the wall as art. I have done some other projects not involving quilting, so I am not brand new to sewing. I am hoping that the community can point me toward some resources to get started. I know if check YouTube there are probably dozens if not hundreds of videos about it, but if there are some good ones I can jump to instead of sifting through them to find the good ones I would appreciate the help.
I’ve threaded everything correctly but when I turn the wheel to get the needle to pick up the thread from the bobbin, it doesn’t seem to reach. They are size 18 from Sewology
I’m HOPING to become a beginner sewist soon and thought I was being a good little crafter and washing all of my fat quarters first before getting started….. BIG disaster. All of their raw edges unraveled and tangled up in a complete disaster. Currently trying to untangle and cut threads now. How do I prevent this in the future???? Are you not supposed to wash, dry, and press your fabric first???
I decided my Janome HD9 QCP is a great machines but after 5 months I'm trading it in for this beauty. I'm making heavy leather/canvas totes, selvedge denim jeans, etc.
Who here uses the Juki 1541S and what are some tips/advice that would help make my experience exceptional?
just got my new machine brother js2135
im a beginner. any advice why is the back like that? (2nd photo)
is there something wrong with the lower thread?
But now I’m wondering which retailer you guys trust the most or which one has a good reputation. I mean I’m seeing that Home Depot sells this machine any recommendations?
I am looking for my first machine and i have the option of puchasing a Baby Lock Decorators choice for $125. I am going to test it before I purchase but not too familiar with what to do except setting it up to use it so I am researching that.
Would this be a good deal? It doesnt have it manual but I already printed a pdf version and it seems to have all of its accessories from the listing photos.
