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Needle Size

#9

Silky fabrics

Sheer fabrics

Fine thread

#11

Lightweight weaves

Jersey and single knit, light elastic

Overlock thread

#14

General sewing medium weight fabrics

Double knit and spandex, medium elastic

Cotton wrapped polyester

#16

Heavy woven drapery, suiting

Double knit velour, bulky knits and heavy elastic

Cotton wrapped polyester

#18

Heavy and tightly woven, denim, upholstery

..

Cotton wrapped polyester or nylon

 Test for Thread and Needle Size Relationship

 A convenient test for thread and needle size relationship is to take a 2 or 3 ft. piece of thread and see if the needle will
 slip easily from one end to the other as the opposite ends are alternately raised and lowered.  If the needle does not
 slip easily from one end to the other by its own weight, the next largest needle should be tried.
 There is no hard and fast needle size recommendation.  Most size determinations should be made by trial and error.

Thread Information

Nylon

Polyester

Nylon
 Monofilament

Cotton

 Tensile strength

1

2

1

4

 Loop break

3

4

3

2

 Elastic Recovery

1

2

1

5

 Flex life

2

3

2

5

 Resistance to:

 Sunlight

3

3

3

5

 Abrasion

1

2

1

5

 Mildew

1

1

1

5

 Heat

3

3

3

3

4

2

4

5

 Alkali

3

4

3

5

Legend:

(1) Superior    (2) Excellent    (3) Good    (4) Fair    (5) Poor          

Needle Size Conversion Table----American-European

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