Needle configurations can definitely be confusing, but it’s very important that you learn
to read them. There are usually three parts of a needle you need to understand - the needle diameters, the
number of needles, and the configuration that the needles are in.
For needle diameter, the measurement will be given either in a millimetre format (e.g. 0.35 mm) or in a
gauge - 12 gauge is 0.35 mm, 10 gauge is 0.30 mm, and 08 gauge is 0.25 mm.
The number of needles in a configuration is usually an odd number, and can be as low as just 1 needle and as
many as 49, or even more.
The configuration itself refers to the way the needles are grouped. The most standard types are Round Liners, Round Shaders, Magnums, Flats, and Soft Edge Magnum, although new styles and configurations
are being created all the time!