If I'm sewing curtains, does my sewing machine need a special needle?

[Sillybillybob]

I'm a very novice sewing-type and only have the normal needle my sewing machine came with plus a few spares I think. I know you're meant to change the needle after every project...

DH has asked me to sew some curtains for DS' "den" - will the normal needle do on curtain material? Or do I need some extra-strong-muscle- type needle?

Thanks!

A normal needle will be fine. I only ever change needles when they break.

Thank you! I may not have changed mine yet and wasn't intending to for a while...

Normal size needles come is sizes 70,80 and 90. For home dec weight fabric, ie curtain material, I would use a 90 if you have one, 80's I would use for patchwork, and 70's for anything more lightweight than patchwork material.

If you got a mixed pack with the machine, one of them might be a 90 - an 80 would work as well, but I wouldn't use a 70 just because it will probably not have the heft to get through lots of layers of material eg sewing header tape on.

Sizes are marked on the non-sharp end of the needle, can be faint and hard to read though!

I change mine at the start of a new project - the reason being is that I find certain fabrics blunt the needle and then I find I have problems with the stitching. No harm is using your current needle just remember that if you have problems with the stitches then it's worth changing the needle (as well as re-threading etc)

Good advice from woodburnerbabe
Also make sure you adjust the stitch size to a suitable length for what you are sewing. My machine has a denim stitch for thicker materials but if you haven't got that I would set it to quite a long straight stitch.