M
ASTERING
Y
OUR
BERNINA
®
S
ERGERS
6/2006
6
©2006 BERNINA
®
of America, Inc.
Permission to copy and distribute in printed and electronic formats granted only to Authorized BERNINA
®
Dealers
Mastering
Your
BERNINA
®
Sergers
Needles
Along with thread, needles are very important to stitch formation. Many
“mechanical” problems and damage to fabrics can be traced to a bent,
damaged, or incorrect size or type needle. Approximately 60% of all
needles made are discarded at some stage of production. When select-
ing the correct needle for any serging project, three things must be
considered:
Needle system – 130/705H
Needle point – to assure stitch formation and avoid fabric damage
Needle size – smaller for lightweight fabrics; larger for heavier ones
If the needle is:
Too small – the thread can’t stay in the groove to form a loop
to be picked up by the looper
Bent – thread loop forms too far away from looper, which can’t
enter loop to form stitch
Blunt – needle won’t pierce fabric so no thread loop forms to make
a stitch
Need To Know
• Never use a needle bigger than size 90/14 in your serger; larger
needles can interfere with looper movement and cause damage.
• Needle should be changed every 4-6 hours of sewing. The needle
is the most inexpensive part in your serger but is one of the most
crucial for getting good results and keeping your machine running
well. Don’t let false economy keep you from doing what is best for
your sewing projects and your machine.
• European needles are chrome-plated to glide through fabric easily.
• The selected thread should fit in the groove on the front of the
needle. If it isn’t protected by the groove, a needle with a larger
groove should be used.
• Always make sure needles are fully inserted as high as possible,
with the flat side to the back.
Needle Size Conversion
European vs. Domestic
60 = 8
70 = 10
75 = 11
80 = 12
90 = 14
100 = 16
110 = 18
120 = 19
Regardless of the system, the greater
the number, the larger the diameter
of the needle. Never use a needle
larger than size 90/14 in your serger!
Notes
