If you are new to sewing, you might not have ever heard of a double needle (or twin needle), but it is a great tool for finishing off hems on clothing. They are also great to use on stretch knit fabrics, and allow you to make a wide variety of decorative stitches. It can be hard to thread at first, but it gets easier!

Getting Started

The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure you have two spool pins. Check your sewing machine, see if there are two spool pins built in. You may have a spool pin that connects to the bobbin winder (that what mine does) or you may need to buy a separate spool pin.

two spools of thread placed on spool pins on top of sewing machine

Putting the double needle on the machine

Now you’ll want to take your single needle off your machine and put the double needle on. Unscrew the screw that holds the pin in place and pull your single needle out. Put your double needle in its place. Make sure the flat side of your needle is in the back and tighten your screw. Adjust your pressor foot or needle position so your needle doesn’t hit the pressor foot.

sewing machine, with red arrow pointing to needle screw, on right hand side of sewing needle
Loosen the screw

Pull the thread through

Thread your machine as normal, using both strands of thread (if you need a refresher on how to thread a sewing machine, see my tutorial here)

sewing machine with red arrows pointing across machine, down, around, up and back down thread guide

Be care not to twist your thread, run a strand through each needle. Now proceed to install bobbin like normal and turn your handwheel once to pull your thread out of the machine.

double needle placed in sewing machine. Yellow strand of thread is threaded on right needle, blue strand of thread is threaded on left needle
How to thread a double needle
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