10 January 2012

Double Needle

*this is a re-post of a most helpful tutorial when it comes to knits I did last summer!*

Hello, Pickup Readers!  I am delighted to be here to talk a bit about my sewing passion.  This is such a great series to help demystify some of those techniques you frequently see, but not explained. When Chris asked me to guest post last month, I knew I wanted to talk about double needles.  Double needles might look intimidating, but they are so versatile and helpful, especially if you don't have a serger, but still want that professional looking finish.  So, today I will just be going over one use of the double needle that I frequently utilize in my sewing of swimsuits for my girls.
There are several different sizes of double needles as well as types, such as stretch and denim.  I use the regular double needles and prefer the 4/80 size for most of my projects, but you can order the others online.  The double needle is flat on the back above the red bar, just like regular needles and goes in the same way as a conventional needle does, with the flat part facing the back as you slide it up and tighten the screw to hold it in.
You will load the top of your machine with two spools of thread.  If you don't have the same color, just load an additional bobbin and stack on top of the other, making sure they are unwinding the same direction.  Load them both through the top of your machine together, just as if it were a single thread.
Once you get to the thread guide just above the needle, you separate the threads on either side and bring them down to the two needles in corresponding positions.  The bobbin with thread as normal, just one!
Increase your stitch to a 3, as that gives it a more professional look.  You will stitch your fabric without stretching it  and only on the right side of your fabric.  The back does not look the same!
In fact, the zig zag that the bobbin thread creates on the back is what helps maintain the stretch-ability of the fabric, while the front looks professional and tidy!  It's that easy!

Thanks for having me Chris, and if you'd like to now use your newfound skill of double needles, I've got a swimsuit tutorial to go along with this over at no big dill!  Even the swim instructors will be impressed with your child's homemade suit ;)
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29 comments:

  1. Jayna RaeJanuary 10, 2012 5:34 PM

    Way cool!!!!!!!!

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  2. gretJanuary 10, 2012 6:02 PM

    Great post, thanks so much!

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  3. MelanieJanuary 10, 2012 6:21 PM

    I bought a double needle about 4 years ago and have never used it! I think I'll go pull it out now! Thanks, Katy!

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  4. No Big Dill January 10, 2012 6:57 PM

    Melanie-Hooray! You will enjoy the professional looking results.

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  5. BlogfulJanuary 10, 2012 9:19 PM

    That is very cool

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  6. AnilegraJanuary 11, 2012 3:20 AM

    nunca se me había ocurrido poner la canilla encima del hilo
    Anilegra Moda Para Muñecas

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  7. BeckyJanuary 11, 2012 5:30 PM

    wow! something i thought was so complex, and you completely simplyfied it in 3 minutes...wow...i'm off to buy some double needles...hope i do find them here!
    thanks

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  8. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2012 11:49 AM

    Thank you for this! You gave me the courage to use a double needle and it works great! Now where do you find cute swimsuit materials?

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  9. UnknownJanuary 15, 2012 4:09 AM

    I got some double needles with my machine, but never had the gut to try! You make it seem so easy... maybe I can do it!

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  10. Mary JoJanuary 15, 2012 12:01 PM

    Hi! This post was very informative as I'm debating buying a serger. I like the idea of a double-needle, but I'm not sure if it'll work on my machine b/c my spool loads sideways. Is there a way to work around this problem or can you only do it with top-loading spools like the the one in the post?
    Thanks! :)

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  11. No Big Dill January 15, 2012 7:56 PM

    Mary Jo--Absolutely you can use the horizontal spool loading with this. Your machine should have a little "cap" to go on the end of the spool holder to keep your thread in place. Simply put both spools on and then the cap and you're set! Just make sure they are unwinding the same way.

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  12. VJFebruary 29, 2012 7:36 AM

    Oh WOW This is great!!! Thank you!!!

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  13. mkkMarch 19, 2012 11:14 PM

    What stitch selector setting do you use with the double needles? Is that what the "stretch stitch " settings are?

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  14. No Big Dill March 23, 2012 12:37 PM

    mkk-you use a regular straight stitch, but increase the length slightly (about a 3).

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  15. DarcyMarch 30, 2012 10:24 PM

    Hi there! I'm hoping you can help me because I can't figure out my twin needle issue anywhere.

    When I use my twin needle, the bobbin thread does not zigzag underneath. It just stays in a relatively straight line until I increase the needle thread tension significantly and them am left with a puffy line between my two lines of stitching on top. I hope that makes sense. Since the bobbin thread isn't zigzagging it's not having any stretch either. I have played with settings to no end and can't get it right.

    Thanks!!

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    Replies
    1. KerenJanuary 22, 2013 9:23 PM

      I get the puffy line in between my two rows of stitches too. Was there a solution to this?
      Thanks!

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    2. No Big Dill January 22, 2013 10:19 PM

      Keren-your bobbin thread is too tight, pulling the rows together excessively. There's a tiny screw on the bobbin case that you can adjust, but mark where it is now with a sharpie so you can readjust it. You could also try adjusting the tension on top, but it sounds like its the bobbin thread.

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  16. No Big Dill March 30, 2012 10:42 PM

    Darcy-email me so i can ask you some questions and give you some more ideas to try with your double needle: nobigdillblog@gmail.com

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  17. TennjennyApril 09, 2012 9:20 PM

    Oh, snap! I totally did it! (I mean, after I broke the first twin needle 30 seconds in, forgetting that I had my 1/4" foot in, but still.) I am tickled pink, and I have completely forgotten all about that big bad coverstitch machine I was coveting (but could never have bought). Thank you, Katy!

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  18. Sassy June 29, 2012 7:18 PM

    Do you use the regular double needle for knits or would you buy a ballpoint twin needle?

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  19. No Big Dill June 30, 2012 3:27 AM

    Sassy T--Up to this point I've actually never used the ballpoint twin, but if you're going to be sewing mainly knits, I would definitely get that.

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  20. Lindsay PartlowSeptember 18, 2012 12:37 PM

    Do you need to use elastic thread? Or what kind of thread do you recommend?

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  21. No Big Dill September 18, 2012 1:59 PM

    Lindsay-just use regular thread!

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  22. kv barnJanuary 17, 2013 4:37 PM

    thanks :)! very helpful!

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  23. cherylJuly 20, 2013 11:03 PM

    do you use a regular foot for the double needle or buy one specifically for double needle?? I was at JoAnn tonight looking for double needle but no luck!!

    HELP!!

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    Replies
    1. No Big Dill July 21, 2013 7:24 AM

      Cheryl-I don't believe Joann's sells them anymore. You'll have to order one online. I use a regular foot, as long admit accommodates the width if the needles. Depending in the feet your machine came with, you may want to switch to a foot that has a wider hole if the needle can't pass through.

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    2. cherylJuly 21, 2013 3:44 PM

      thank you for your reply. I will see what I can find. can't wait to try it.

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  24. ShazAugust 10, 2013 12:34 PM

    thank you so much for this, I was butting my head against a wall trying to figure out how i can get a second spool on when my machine doesnt have anywhere to put one, Thanks to you I have now seen you can pop a bobbin on top :)
    tyty

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  25. Dee SamAugust 04, 2014 1:30 PM

    Thank you a whole lot. My machine doesn't have a second spool pin, so I used a straw and taped it to the back of my machine and it is lining up with the first spool. I placed the second thread and put in the needle set the settings and sewed on a piece of scrap. Voila can't believe it was so simple. Well this double needle is now my friend. Thank you.

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