Sewing machine needles usually come in tiny plastic packs that are too small to be recycled/downcycled. Until recently I just complained to the air about it because I thought there was no alternative.
Then I found Organ sewing machine needles, made in Japan and packaged in the sweetest tiny paper packets. I spent over a year falling down a rabbit hole, trying to track them down so I could stock them in the shop. Hooray! I did it!
These are high-quality flat-shank needles for use in home sewing machines. I’ve chosen to stock the needles I think are most useful for mending.
Each packet contains 10 needles of the same size and type:
|
HAx1 |
universal needle |
size 100/16 |
for heavyweight fabrics such as denim, canvas, vinyl and upholstery |
|
HAx1 |
universal needle |
size 90/14 |
For medium-weight fabrics such as linen and calico |
|
HAx1 |
universal needle |
size 80/12 |
for thin fabrics such as cotton shirting, quilting cotton, poplin, rayon and light wool |
|
HAx1 |
universal needle |
size 70/10 |
for very fine fabrics such as silk, cotton lawn, cotton voile, lining fabric, sheer fabric and synthetics |
|
HAx1BP |
ballpoint needle |
size 75/11 |
for stretch knits such as cotton jersey (T-shirts and undies) |
|
HAx1DE |
denim needle |
size 100/16 |
for better stitching on denim and canvas |
|
HLx5 |
Industrial-strength hard chrome embroidery needle |
size 100/16 |
for quilting multiple layers, heavy-duty embroidery and machine darning of thick or heavy materials |
Not sure which needle is right for you? I recommend using what you mend/sew most often as your guide.
Universal needles are good all-rounders. You can use them for everything (making sure to match needle size to fabric type/thickness). But for certain types of mending, specialty needles will do a better job (e.g. fewer skipped stitches and broken needles):
- If you mend a lot of T-shirts and stretchy things, choose HAx1BP.
- If plan to machine-darn crotch holes in many pairs of jeans, choose HAx1DE or HLx5.
- If you often mend jeans (not just machine darning but hems and side seams too), choose HAx1DE.
- If you mend a lot of heavy-duty fabrics (not just jeans), go with the universal HAx1 size 100/16.
- If you’re obsessed with free-motion darning and want to mend everything with artistic scribbles now, or need to free-motion darn heavy-duty workwear, try HLx5.
Made in Japan and packaged in aluminium-coated paper (similar to a gum wrapper) inside a paper envelope.