littlehud

I can tell by the way my machine sounds. There is this faint thunking noise and then I know to change the needle. My kids can't hear it but I can.

nursie76

I too use the titanium needles and love them. I can tell when they need changing because the needle makes a sort of "plunk, plunk" noise when it goes into the material.

sewcrazygirl

Usually my bobbin will act up, i change my needle and its all better. Odd huh?

Gal

I can tell when the machine starts to make a rough sound and/or some missed stitches or the needle pulls threads in the fabric. I can also tell by putting my finger on the tip and you can feel a dull needle straight away!

Gal

patricej

if you can afford to buy in bulk, this website sells Organ brand titanium needles for home sewing machines.

100 needles (many sizes available) are $42.95

compare that to $6.99 per pack of 5.

you'd save 70%

(the large-eye needles for metallic - 2 sizes - are $58 per 100. 60% savings)

http://www.ctsusa.com/_e/dept/21/Hou...ne_Needles.htm

Quilt4u

After 8 hrs.

CarrieAnne

Not enough at all! I try to just do it when they get dull.

PurpleBecca

I change mine about every 4 to 5 sewing hours - its hard to gauge though, you might have been 'sewing' for 6 hours the machine might have done half that, what with cutting out and pressing and rumaging etc....

I will look at the Titanium needles after my current supply runs out - thanks for the tip.

BTW - I never wait until the needle plunks - not very good for the machine and I also hate the needle to decide to be blunt right in the middle of something special.

When I used to buy needles a 5 pack at a time it was hard to keep tossing them, but then I started to buy the 'workshop packs' from my Bernina dealer - 100 needles in a little box, and its not so hard to throw one out now - the boxes still last me ages, I have about five different boxes on the go for different jobs, so thats a lot of needles!

dsb38327

I need this post sooooooooooooo bad. I, too, can hear when the machine changes it song. I hate so much to change the needle when it seems like I just put it in the machine. I am greedy for all the information I can get on this subject. I also need to be taught how to choose the correct needle for the fabric and/or project.

LUV2QLT

DSB - your machine manual should tell you what needle to use for what kind of fabric - but I THINK the smaller the number on the needle, then the thinner fabric it should be used for - I use a 10, 11, or 12 for cottons, 14 for denim - if I'm going through several layers of cotton & batting, I go with the 12 - but you will probably get more ideas from other members here, I'm sure! Or you could do a google search too!