Using a Twin Needle

I just discovered twin needles and am excited to share them with you.

A twin needle is what it sounds like, two needles that fit in the place of one. My sewing machine is not super fancy. In fact, it was $80 from Walmart. That link is the exact one I have that I have used for every single sewing project on this site.

However, if you are about to buy a sewing machine, it looks like this is a better deal from Walmart. It’s the same company, but costs less and has more stitches and higher ratings.

Back to twin needles. A twin needle allows me to create very professional stitches with a very unprofessional machine. My twin needle is the Schmetz Universal Twin Needle 4,0/80 which you can get on Amazon for just over $5 and free shipping.

This size is great for the width that I wanted, but was wide enough that I can only do a straight stitch with it as a zigzag stitch would cause my needle to hit my current presser foot. Since I don’t really feel like picking up a zigzag presser foot just yet, I’m sticking to the straight stitch.

How to use a twin needle

1. First, replace your original needle with your twin needle. This is done the same way you replace any needle. See your manual for details.

2. Thread the left needle using your current spool of thread the way you normally thread your machine.

3. Place a second spool of thread on the spool for threading your bobbin. Mine is at the top of my machine. Note that many machines come with a second spool for use with twin needles.

4. Thread the second spool of thread the way you do your first spool, only skip the needle bar (the part that holds the thread right before the needle). Then pull the thread through the second needle.

5. Make sure you have the bobbin underneath go to go and you are ready!

***Please check to see if your manual has any special instructions for threading a twin needle.

How my machine looks when threaded with a twin needle.

Here’s what will happen:

Your beautiful stitches from the top. Make sure you sew with the right side facing up.

Your stitches from the bottom. Note that the zigzagging creates some stretch which is useful when sewing with knits.

You are now a twin needle genius! Go a create my friends!

-Kara

For additional resources see:

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Sew-a-Coverstitch-with-a-Twin-Needle-Sewi/

http://mellysews.com/2012/11/twin-needle-stitching.html

If you don’t have a second spool, here’s a creative fix:

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2012/08/using-the-double-needle-without-the-2nd-spool-holder.html

How to use a twin needle

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