The 558 SES needle (needle system 558) has a small ball point for working knit fabrics, without damaging the loops. It is used in industrial chainstitch and general-purpose sewing machines for everyday garment and textile manufacturing. Suitable machine classes are found, among others, at Juki (classes MEB, MEB-3200CS, MEB-3200JS, MEB-3200RS), Brother (classes B 980, B 981, DH4, RH) and Dürkopp Adler (classes 558, 578, 580 -, 558 - OTHER CLASS).
Thinner needle sizes are used, among others, for medium-weight knit fabrics for everyday garment production, and the thicker versions for heavy, dense knit fabrics and technical knits. As sewing thread, a matching thickness is usually recommended depending on the needle size chosen, e.g. from Amann Serafil or Rasant; for very stretchy seams, a texturised thread also works well. The ball point glides between the loops instead of piercing them, keeping the seam clean and undamaged.
