• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT
  • FEATURES
  • PARTIES I LINK TO

Nannycraft4u

Make your handmade dreams a reality - Just ask Nanny!

  • CHARITY PROJECTS
  • TUTORIALS
    • BAGS,POUCHES,ROLLS,WALLETS
    • EMBROIDERY
    • HOME/DECOR
    • LET’S SEW
    • QUILTING TUTORIALS
    • SPIN THE PINS
    • TOYS
    • WOTZA WEDNESDAY
  • SEWING/QUILTING
    • SIMPLE PROJECTS
    • TIPS & TOOLS
  • RECIPES
  • NANNY CHAT
  • NANNY & POPPY PROJECTS
    • CRAFT ROOM
    • HOUSE
    • TRAVEL
Home » Lets Sew – Part 4 – Changing the needle

Lets Sew – Part 4 – Changing the needle

October 9, 2012 by Nanny Leave a Comment

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Good Morning!

Today we need to look at which needle to use.  A general rule is fine threads and needles for fine fabrics, heavier threads and needles for heavier fabrics.
If you have your fat 1/4s, you will have quilting cotton and so we need to use a medium weight needle – size 11(75) – 14(90).  Just like any tools, it is important to have sharp needles – many people don’t change the needle unless it breaks !!!, but it is a good habit to change the needle at least every 8-10 sewing hours or when you start a new project.  A blunt needle can create more problems than it is worth, so start out keeping your machine in ‘top’ condition and ‘she’ will reward you with more trouble free hours of enjoyment!
Changing the needle is a simple operation so let’s do it!

The first thing to do is Turn Off The Power!

Raise the needle to its highest point by turning the Balance Wheel.
Lower the Pressure Foot
Holding the needle in your left hand, turn the needle Clamp Screw toward you until the needle comes free – don’t get carried away or you will screw it right off!!

Take your new needle and insert into the clamp with the flat side away from you (check your manual if different) and push it in as far as it will go. Tighten the Needle Clamp Screw with your fingers and then more firmly. (you will have a small screwdriver in your machine kit)

There you go – I said it was easy!!! 
Now before we get sewing I want to check the size of seams.  In the photo below, I have removed the foot and wound the needle down.  The measurements you see on the Needle Plate and the Hook Cover Plate are the distance from the needle to that mark.

These are here to act as a fabric guide ie the edge of your fabric will move along that line and ensure you have straight, even seams!

Many of the patterns you download have 1/2″ seam allowances and quilters use 1/4″ seams.  I have put a piece of tape along the 1/2″ line to show you an easy way to get used to these measurements.

Warning:  Don’t use packaging tape like this – it lifted the silver from the plate (Oh NOOO!!!!)
Now you just have to thread your new needle and we can sew!
Until next time
Nanny  🙂

Please share:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: LET'S SEW, SEWING/QUILTING, TIPS/TOOLS, TUTORIALS

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome!

Welcome! I am Nanny and this is where I like to share my crafting as well as other snippets of our life in Australia. Read more

Social

Follow me on:

Like a Newsletter?

My Button4u

grab button for Nannycraft4u
<div class="nannycraft4u-button" style="width: 150px; margin: 0 auto;"> <a href="http://www.nannycraft4u.com.au" rel="nofollow"> <img src="http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r482/Nannycraft4u/logo8-001.jpg" alt="Nannycraft4u" width="150" height="150" /> </a> </div>

Looking for something?

Australian Women Bloggers Directory by Blog Chicks

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow on Facebook

Follow on Facebook

Favourites

  • Spin The Pins - Microwave Bowl Holder
    Spin The Pins - Microwave Bowl Holder
  • Let's Sew Part 2 - Threading Your Machine
    Let's Sew Part 2 - Threading Your Machine
  • TUTORIAL - Slow Cooker Lid Cover
    TUTORIAL - Slow Cooker Lid Cover
Follow on Instagram

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

© Nannycraft4u

All content and images belong to Nannycraft4u unless otherwise indicated. You are welcome to link back to my blog, but you may not copy whole posts, tutorials or photos without my permission. Please give credit for my work and link back to the original post at Nannycraft4u.com If you use one of my ideas, I would love to know about it. Designs and tutorials are for personal use only.

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in