Needles
Stitch Master sewing machines require system 135x16 leather needles sizes #18
or #20. A size #20 needle is used for most medium to heavy leather sewing.
Needle Installation
Stitch Master needles are round on top, unlike
home sewing machine needles. As a result,
proper installation must be exercised carefully.
Improperly installed needles are the main
reason users call for help.
Please be sure
that the needle eye is not twisted.
The needles have two distinct sides (
41
&
42
). One side has a long channel or groove
(
B
) (locate this groove with your fingernail if
you cannot see it), and the other side has a
scarf (
D
) i.e., a carved out area, just above the
needle eye (
C
).
When installed, the side with the needle eye
and groove should be facing outward i.e. to the
left as you face the machine.
CAUTION:
If the needle is inserted the
wrong way, the machine will skip stitches and
break thread.
To make sure your needle is inserted far
enough, you can look through the sighting hole
(
43
,
E
) near the bottom of the needle bar. The
top of the needle should be fully visible in the
sighting hole and pushed all the way to the top.
A
Needle bar thread guide hole
B
Needle groove
C
Needle eye
D
3/16 inch (5mm) ~ height of scarf
E
Sighting Hole
DI Leather
Needle Type
Use of the wrong needle type can contribute to unattractive
or skipped stitches.
DI needles
are ideal for working with leather
(system numbers 135X16 or DPX16).
A “diamond point needle”, should be used for
leather, nonwoven material or two or more layers
of hard leather. These allow for proper thread
entry and help it lay consistently. The cutting
point also keeps the back side of the material
free from a mound or budge at each penetration.
D
A
B
C
E
41
42
43
Stitch Master
®
Guidebook: Stitch Master Set-Up
26
25
