Thread & Needle Size Matcher
Pick your fabric and thread, get the recommended embroidery needle size and type.
Why we built this
New embroiderers guess at needle size and burn through fabric or thread finding out the hard way. This is the lookup table we wished someone had handed us.
Needle sizing is a starting point, not a hard rule — if you're getting skipped stitches or thread breaks, sizing up one step is the standard first fix. Always test-stitch a scrap before running a full order.
Full reference chart
| Fabric | Needle | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight knits (t-shirts) | 75/11 | Ballpoint |
| Medium knits (fleece) | 80/12 | Ballpoint |
| Heavy knits (hoodies) | 90/14 | Ballpoint |
| Lightweight wovens (cotton) | 75/11 | Sharp |
| Medium wovens (twill/canvas) | 80/12 | Sharp |
| Heavy wovens (denim) | 90/14 | Sharp |
| Structured cap panel | 80/12–90/14 | Sharp |
| Denim cap panel | 100/16 | Sharp |