Recommended needle sizes by fabric type. Size format: European/American.
| Fabric | Needle Size | Needle Type |
|---|---|---|
| Silk, chiffon, organza | 60/8 - 70/10 | Sharp/Microtex |
| Cotton lawn, voile | 70/10 - 80/12 | Universal |
| Quilting cotton, poplin | 80/12 | Universal |
| Linen, chambray | 80/12 - 90/14 | Universal |
| Corduroy, velvet | 80/12 - 90/14 | Universal |
| Wool suiting | 90/14 | Universal |
| Denim (light) | 90/14 | Jeans needle |
| Denim (heavy) | 100/16 - 110/18 | Jeans needle |
| Canvas, upholstery | 100/16 - 110/18 | Heavy duty |
| Leather, vinyl | 90/14 - 110/18 | Leather needle |
| Jersey knit | 70/10 - 80/12 | Ballpoint/Jersey |
| Stretch/Lycra | 75/11 - 90/14 | Stretch needle |
| Fleece, sweatshirt | 80/12 - 90/14 | Ballpoint |
| Tulle, lace | 60/8 - 70/10 | Sharp/Microtex |
About Needle Guide
What this tool does
Sewing and crafts tools calculate fabric yardage, knitting gauge, yarn requirements, needle/hook size conversions, quilt binding length, bias tape quantities, and cross-stitch counts.
Why use this tool
Running out of fabric mid-project is frustrating and expensive, especially with specialty materials. These calculators let you estimate materials accurately before cutting, so you buy the right amount the first time.
How it works
Fabric calculators account for pattern width, seam allowances, and directional prints. Knitting gauge converts stitches per inch to total stitches for a target width. Yarn estimators multiply yardage per row by total rows.
Pro tip
Always buy 10-15% extra fabric to account for shrinkage, cutting errors, and pattern matching. For directional prints, the waste factor can be even higher.
Deep Dive: Related Research
Love this tool? Explore 5050+ more
Free online tools for images, PDFs, text, code, and more. All running in your browser.
Explore All Tools