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Stitch ToolkitPractical tools for sewing and embroidery

Machine embroidery reference

Embroidery Needle Guide

Choose what you're embroidering to find a suitable needle type and size.

Search by name, material or common alternative term.

Clothing

14 choices

T-shirtView guidePolo shirtView guideHoodieView guideSweatshirtView guideBaby onesie / baby clothingView guideDress shirtView guideWork shirtView guideJacketView guideJeansView guideLeggingsView guideSportswearView guidePerformance shirtView guideSchool uniformView guideApronView guide

Stretch & knit fabrics

9 choices

Jersey knitView guideCotton jerseyView guidePolyester knitView guideStretch performance polyesterView guideLycra / SpandexView guideRib knitView guideSweater knitView guideStretch denimView guideNeopreneView guide

Stable woven fabrics

15 choices

Quilting cottonView guideCotton broadclothView guideCotton drillView guideCotton/polyester blendView guideMuslinView guideCalicoView guideFlannelView guideChambrayView guideDenimView guideCanvasView guideDuck clothView guideTwillView guideLinenView guideWoven polyesterView guidePoplinView guide

Towels & pile fabrics

13 choices

Terry towelView guideBath towelView guideHand towelView guideTea towelView guideMicrofibre towelView guideFleeceView guidePolar fleeceView guideVelvetView guideVelourView guideCorduroyView guideMinkyView guideFaux furView guideSherpaView guide

Delicate & sheer fabrics

6 choices

SilkView guideSatinView guideChiffonView guideOrganzaView guideLaceView guideSheer fabricView guide

Bags, hats & accessories

9 choices

Canvas tote bagView guideCotton tote bagView guideNylon bagView guideBackpackView guideBaseball capView guideStructured capView guideBeanieView guidePatchView guideFabric badgeView guide

Household & craft

10 choices

FeltView guideWool feltView guideBurlap / hessianView guideCork fabricView guideNapkinView guideTableclothView guidePlacematView guideCushion coverView guideQuiltView guideBlanketView guide

Difficult surfaces

3 choices

VinylView guideFaux leatherView guideLeatherView guide

79 practical starting points across familiar fabrics and items. Recommendations are brand independent.

Stretch & knit fabrics

Stretch denim

A practical embroidery needle starting point for this material.

Recommended needle

Stretch or jeans/denim needle

Recommended size

80/12–90/14

Why?

Stretch denim combines a dense woven structure with elastane. A stretch needle helps prevent skipped stitches, while a jeans needle may suit firmer low-stretch denim.

Tips

  • Start with a fresh needle and replace it if stitches skip or thread begins to shred.
  • Test both point styles if the amount of stretch is unclear.
  • Avoid stitching across bulky seams where possible.
  • Match the design density and thread weight to the fabric rather than relying on needle size alone.