moonrise

When I start hearing that "tick tick tick" dull needle sound, or when it breaks. I make a lot of zippered pouches and purses that have several layers of fabric and interfacing, so my needles usually bend or break before they have the chance to get dull. Speaking of which, I hate the way my machine sounds when a needle bites the dust. It makes a startling mechanical "scream", freezes up (safety mechanism), and beeps frantically at me. Okay, that's a slight exaggeration, but it still scares me every time! LOL!

QuiltnLady1

I use titanium coated needles and only change one when it breaks or starts to make noise. The 8 hour thing is for regular needles but even then I usually can piece a whole project without needing to change the needle.

donna13350

For piecing...when it makes a noise going into the fabric. For FMQ...if it's a special quilt, I change the needle before I start...if it's a utility quilt or a quick scrap quilt..I don't change it until it makes a popping sound going through the fabric .