Needle Sizes and Types
Needles
Gammill machines are designed to use industrial machine needles in a variety of sizes. For most quilting operations, Groz-Beckert system 134MR with the sharp tip (designated as “R”) in sizes 3.5, 4.0 or 4.5 are recommended, where the higher the number, the thicker the needle.
When stitching thick fabrics or tops with thick intersections, the larger size 5.0 needle may give better results. The thicker, stronger needle easily penetrates the thicker fabric and reduces needle and thread breaks.
For micro-quilting with very tiny thread and very short (close-together) stitches, a size 3.0 needle may be desired.
Tip: It is recommended that the needle be changed after each quilt. The points become blunt with use and may cause damage to the fabric or result in poor stitch quality.