Hm.I have to try this. I usually use the needles that are no longer good for embroidery and use them for sewing. That means they are usually 75/11. Never had tried to compare.

12 usually, universal. I always use schmedt needles.

Here is a link to the Schmetz needle chart. Very helpful. And if your needles are no longer good for embroidery, they are no longer good for sewing either.

I use a 12 for ordinary sewing and on my Bernina also a 12 for embroidery.

For fine cottons I use a 70 otherwise most of the time 80. I find 90 too thick

I use 80/12 universals for pretty much everything - sewing and embroidery (knits I use ball point).

I generally use 75/11 universal for regular sewing or piecing on quilting cotton...for free motion quilting, I generally use a 80/12 universal...

Thank you all for your help. No wonder the #12 is working so well. For years I have been using a much bigger needle. Flowers for all.

I agree always use this too & change for embroidery when needed, except jeans use the 16 needle for the heavier stuff

I mostly use a 80/12 all purpose for sewing, thicker ones for denim or topstitching, a 70/10 for silk.

Here is another information page that I like to use.

I use 12/80 Universal, apart from obvious exceptions. Have been using on both sewing and embroidery. I bought a 100 pack from the Echidna Club in QLD for $43.95 australian dollar, used Ebay. The needles are quite good and are called Beissel.

14 is good for light weight jeans or heavy cottons. I follow the needle chart from schmetz as that is my preferred needles.
I sew everything from cottons to leather, using the appropriate needle.
My embroidery machine has two different sizes that I use a lot, again, depending on thickness of fabric and density of design.