A Question of needles?

A friend of my wife, has asked me about sewing machine needles and a
particular problem she has been having while sewing through some
fabric that has some sort of metallic fiber running through it. Her
standard needles are unable to penetrate the fiber and are pushed off
to one side or another and render the whole sewing process less than
perfect. I checked my information resources about sewing needles and
did not find anything pertinent. Does anybody have any suggestions?
Either of a personal experience nature or website with arcane needle
suggestions for special need issues. I know that somebody here has
probably run across this sort of thing, but I haven't, and the woman
has 6 yds of fabric that she wants to use and is unable to do so with
her present needle selection. My thought, at first, was that with an
industrial machine, one could power through any situation like she
describes, but that may, in fact, not be so, or at least, a
prohibitively costly solution. Any help is appreciated.
John

How about titanium?


On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:46:46 -0700 (PDT), John
wrote:

A friend of my wife, has asked me about sewing machine needles and a
particular problem she has been having while sewing through some
fabric that has some sort of metallic fiber running through it. Her
standard needles are unable to penetrate the fiber and are pushed off
to one side or another and render the whole sewing process less than
perfect. I checked my information resources about sewing needles and
did not find anything pertinent. Does anybody have any suggestions?
Either of a personal experience nature or website with arcane needle
suggestions for special need issues. I know that somebody here has
probably run across this sort of thing, but I haven't, and the woman
has 6 yds of fabric that she wants to use and is unable to do so with
her present needle selection. My thought, at first, was that with an
industrial machine, one could power through any situation like she
describes, but that may, in fact, not be so, or at least, a
prohibitively costly solution. Any help is appreciated.
John

jeans needles come in all sizes and are quite sharp. worth a shot.
superior threads has a lot of info on thier site.
Taria
"Bonnie Patterson" wrote in message
...
How about titanium?


On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:46:46 -0700 (PDT), John
wrote:

A friend of my wife, has asked me about sewing machine needles and a
particular problem she has been having while sewing through some
fabric that has some sort of metallic fiber running through it. Her
standard needles are unable to penetrate the fiber and are pushed off
to one side or another and render the whole sewing process less than
perfect. I checked my information resources about sewing needles and
did not find anything pertinent. Does anybody have any suggestions?
Either of a personal experience nature or website with arcane needle
suggestions for special need issues. I know that somebody here has
probably run across this sort of thing, but I haven't, and the woman
has 6 yds of fabric that she wants to use and is unable to do so with
her present needle selection. My thought, at first, was that with an
industrial machine, one could power through any situation like she
describes, but that may, in fact, not be so, or at least, a
prohibitively costly solution. Any help is appreciated.
John

I was going to suggest needles for metallic thread, but jeans needles
seams a good choice.
I would just worry about bigger holes.

amy in CNY (for now)

Do you actually want to penetrate the fiber? Seems like this would
cause it to break and leave holes in your fabric.
Hmmm... What's she making?
Roberta in D

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:46:46 -0700 (PDT), John
wrote:

A friend of my wife, has asked me about sewing machine needles and a
particular problem she has been having while sewing through some
fabric that has some sort of metallic fiber running through it. Her
standard needles are unable to penetrate the fiber and are pushed off
to one side or another and render the whole sewing process less than
perfect. I checked my information resources about sewing needles and
did not find anything pertinent. Does anybody have any suggestions?
Either of a personal experience nature or website with arcane needle
suggestions for special need issues. I know that somebody here has
probably run across this sort of thing, but I haven't, and the woman
has 6 yds of fabric that she wants to use and is unable to do so with
her present needle selection. My thought, at first, was that with an
industrial machine, one could power through any situation like she
describes, but that may, in fact, not be so, or at least, a
prohibitively costly solution. Any help is appreciated.
John

The fine jeans needles are so sharp and fine, that the holes are no
bigger than the thread. I am using 70/10 jeans needles at the moment.
They would not be tough enough to go safely through metallic fibres I
don't think; but the 90's should be OK? It would be interesting to know
what she has been using up to now to try to get through. If the answer
to that question is 'universal' needles, then almost anything really
sharp would be better.
..
In message
, amy
in CNY writes
I was going to suggest needles for metallic thread, but jeans needles
seams a good choice.
I would just worry about bigger holes.

amy in CNY (for now)

--
Best Regards
Pat on the Green

That's such a special fabric, John. I suspect no rules or chart is going to
apply. Perhaps a fine sharp needle such as a size 60 would glide through;
could be the fabric will be happy with a ball point or a metallica. I'm
afraid this is one of those 'it depends' situations. Translation: she'll
just have to try this and that until she finds one that is ah, just right.
Polly


"Roberta"
Do you actually want to penetrate the fiber? Seems like this would
cause it to break and leave holes in your fabric.
Hmmm... What's she making?
Roberta in D

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:46:46 -0700 (PDT), John
wrote:

A friend of my wife, has asked me about sewing machine needles and a
particular problem she has been having while sewing through some
fabric that has some sort of metallic fiber running through it. Her
standard needles are unable to penetrate the fiber and are pushed off
to one side or another and render the whole sewing process less than
perfect. I checked my information resources about sewing needles and
did not find anything pertinent. Does anybody have any suggestions?
Either of a personal experience nature or website with arcane needle
suggestions for special need issues. I know that somebody here has
probably run across this sort of thing, but I haven't, and the woman
has 6 yds of fabric that she wants to use and is unable to do so with
her present needle selection. My thought, at first, was that with an
industrial machine, one could power through any situation like she
describes, but that may, in fact, not be so, or at least, a
prohibitively costly solution. Any help is appreciated.
John

On Aug 12, 12:03*pm, "Polly Esther" wrote:
That's such a special fabric, John. *I suspect no rules or chart is going to
apply. *Perhaps a fine sharp needle such as a size 60 would glide through;
could be the fabric will be happy with a ball point or a metallica. *I'm
afraid this is one of those 'it depends' situations. *Translation: *she'll
just have to try this and that until she finds one that is ah, just right..
Polly

"Roberta"

Do you actually want to penetrate the fiber? Seems like this would
cause it to break and leave holes in your fabric.
Hmmm... What's she making?
Roberta in D

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:46:46 -0700 (PDT), John
wrote:

A friend of my wife, has asked me about sewing machine needles and a
particular problem she has been having while sewing through some
fabric that has some sort of metallic fiber running through it. Her
standard needles are unable to penetrate the fiber and are pushed off
to one side or another and render the whole sewing process less than
perfect. I checked my information resources about sewing needles and
did not find anything pertinent. Does anybody have any suggestions?
Either of a personal experience nature or website with arcane needle
suggestions for special need issues. I know that somebody here has
probably run across this sort of thing, but I haven't, and the woman
has 6 yds of fabric that she wants to use and is unable to do so with
her present needle selection. My thought, at first, was that with an
industrial machine, one could power through any situation like she
describes, but that may, in fact, not be so, or at least, a
prohibitively costly solution. Any help is appreciated.
John

I was thinking that would be the case. My Bernina owners manual has a
bit of chat about the various needles that are used for various things
but nothing specific as to this request. They did mention one called a
"Cutting Point" 130/705H-LL or H-LR for "Leather, Suede, Calfskin,
Kid, Pigskin, Leathers, Suede, Plastics, waxed products. That is about
as exotic as I can find. I don't know just what she is doing, but
maybe clothing.

John

I would think the type of thread matters as well as the needle. I use a
size 18 or 20 needle with my 100% cotton 12 wt. threads on quilting weight
100% cotton fabrics. If she has a tough fabric plus a thick thread she may
be stuck with using the leather needles- those actually make a tiny cut in
the leather as they stitch. Otherwise I'd say use a finer but strong
thread and a jeans style needle.

But experimenting with different combinations is the only reliable way to
find what would be best for her situation.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

"John" wrote in message
...
On Aug 12, 12:03 pm, "Polly Esther" wrote:
That's such a special fabric, John. I suspect no rules or chart is going
to
apply. Perhaps a fine sharp needle such as a size 60 would glide through;
could be the fabric will be happy with a ball point or a metallica. I'm
afraid this is one of those 'it depends' situations. Translation: she'll
just have to try this and that until she finds one that is ah, just right.
Polly

"Roberta"

Do you actually want to penetrate the fiber? Seems like this would
cause it to break and leave holes in your fabric.
Hmmm... What's she making?
Roberta in D

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:46:46 -0700 (PDT), John
wrote:

A friend of my wife, has asked me about sewing machine needles and a
particular problem she has been having while sewing through some
fabric that has some sort of metallic fiber running through it. Her
standard needles are unable to penetrate the fiber and are pushed off
to one side or another and render the whole sewing process less than
perfect. I checked my information resources about sewing needles and
did not find anything pertinent. Does anybody have any suggestions?
Either of a personal experience nature or website with arcane needle
suggestions for special need issues. I know that somebody here has
probably run across this sort of thing, but I haven't, and the woman
has 6 yds of fabric that she wants to use and is unable to do so with
her present needle selection. My thought, at first, was that with an
industrial machine, one could power through any situation like she
describes, but that may, in fact, not be so, or at least, a
prohibitively costly solution. Any help is appreciated.
John

I was thinking that would be the case. My Bernina owners manual has a
bit of chat about the various needles that are used for various things
but nothing specific as to this request. They did mention one called a
"Cutting Point" 130/705H-LL or H-LR for "Leather, Suede, Calfskin,
Kid, Pigskin, Leathers, Suede, Plastics, waxed products. That is about
as exotic as I can find. I don't know just what she is doing, but
maybe clothing.

John

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:46:46 -0700, John wrote:

A friend of my wife, has asked me about sewing machine needles and a
particular problem she has been having while sewing through some fabric
that has some sort of metallic fiber running through it. Her standard
needles are unable to penetrate the fiber and are pushed off to one side
or another and render the whole sewing process less than perfect. I
checked my information resources about sewing needles and did not find
anything pertinent. Does anybody have any suggestions? Either of a
personal experience nature or website with arcane needle suggestions for
special need issues. I know that somebody here has probably run across
this sort of thing, but I haven't, and the woman has 6 yds of fabric
that she wants to use and is unable to do so with her present needle
selection. My thought, at first, was that with an industrial machine,
one could power through any situation like she describes, but that may,
in fact, not be so, or at least, a prohibitively costly solution. Any
help is appreciated. John

Is it a knit?
Is it a woven?
what kind of weight are we talking?
What is the non-metallic fiber?
Is the metallic fiber simply mylar strips or is it a laminated thread?
Is she using a lining or interlining with it?

The answer could be as simple as moving the stitch line over one thread
in the weave and paying strict attention to grain.
It could also be so complicated as to require using a special platinum
needle specially crafted by hand by ompa loompas while it is raining in
Scotland.

I would look at the structure of the fabric and how that relates to what
I am trying to do with it first. I would select my needle based on the
weight, weave, and primary fiber content.
No matter how she does, your friend should take great pains to avoid the
needle going into the metallic fibers. At best it will cause the
metallics to fray and stick out, at worst it will cause quick wear on the
needle leading to rapid dulling or potentially breakage.
Thus I would avoid needles that cut, and probably use a finer needle than
I otherwise would.

NightMist

--
I'm raising a developmentally disabled child. What's your superpower?