Sewing machine needle and method for manufacturing same

A method for manufacturing a sewing machine needle, said needle including a shank, a blade arranged so as to extend from said shank and a needle point formed at a distal end of said blade, in which a continuous long groove of a recessed shape is provided so as to extend from said shank to a portion of said blade in proximity to said needle point, a needle eye portion is formed along said long groove and said blade is formed with a clearance-above-eye, comprising the steps of:

• forming a needle blank with said shank of a large diameter and a cylindrical shape, a first blade section of a diameter smaller than said shank contiguous to a distal end of said shank and a second blade section of a diameter smaller than said first blade section contiguous to a distal end of said first blade section, said first and second blade sections constituting said blade;
• forming said second blade section with an elongated portion corresponding to said clearance-above-eye of the sewing machine needle, the elongated portion having a smaller diameter than the remaining portion of the second blade section;
• and
• subjecting said blade to die pressing to form said long groove of a recessed shape extending from said shank to a portion of said second blade section in proximity to said needle point and said needle eye portion having a thin eye accommodating web arranged along said continuous groove, and deforming said elongated portion to form said clearance-above-eye;
• said long groove of said blade having inner side surfaces and outer side surfaces spread at a predetermined angle, respectively, by deforming said blade.