how often do you change your needle when piecing quilt tops?
12-29-2010, 07:57 PM
#66
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Adelanto, CA
Posts: 4,044
I would rarely change my needle unless it made a thudding noise going thru the fabric or if my thread missed stitches. I hated buying needles, thought they were expensive. Recently I joined a needle co-op and got 50 sharps and 25 titanium sharps for aprox $15, now I change my needles more often and safe the used ones for stitching thru soda cans and heavy fabric postcards.
warm quilt hugs, sue in CA
warm quilt hugs, sue in CA
12-29-2010, 08:57 PM
#69
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 78
A loud thunk would certainly scare me. if that's a new sound, I would expect the timing has gotten out of whack & it's time for a professional servicing -- cleaning & adjustment. Just be careful to take it to someone who's factory-authorized, not just anyone advertising a good price.
12-29-2010, 09:07 PM
#70
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 78
Tutty, Yes, different needles for different fabrics! Charts are available online to help you sort it out, if you can't find a reference in your sewing machine manual. Generally, size 16 is for jeans & some topstitching; size 14 is regular weight fabrics, size 12 is med-light-weight (cotton batiste, sheers, etc) & size 10 would be very fine fabrics. Then you have ball-points (in above sizes) for stretchy fabrics & a whole host of other specialty needles. For years I thought it didn't make a difference, but truly it DOES! Sometimes changing to the correct needle cures skipped stitches, puckering & all kinds of unprofessional results. The hole the needle makes while sewing needs to allow the thread to pass thru w/o being overly large.
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