How to Determine Hand Quilting Needle Sizes
- 1). Select a size 10 between to see how this needle feels in your fingers and whether you like how it stitches. Betweens come in sizes 8 through 12, with size 8s being the longest and thickest needles and size 12s being the finest and shortest needles.
- 2). Stitch some quilting stitches with the size 10 between to see if you like how it feels in your fingers and how it moves through the layers of the quilt. If the needle feels comfortable and enables you to make stitches in the length you desire, stay with the size 10.
- 3). Move down to an 8 or 9 between if you want a larger needle. Sizes 8 and 9 needles will be longer and thicker, which will reduce the problem of bent needles. However, you may not be able to create the same small stitches with a larger needle and this needle will not push through the layers as easily.
- 4). Change to an 11 or 12 between if you want a smaller needle. Sizes 11 and 12 needles will be shorter and finer, which means they will penetrate through the quilting layers more readily. This means that you will be able to create smaller and more even stitches while you use a smaller needle. However, some quilters have trouble with fine needles bending easily as they quilt.