Renda, I usually change my needle whenever I start a large project, BUT I've discovered Titanium needles & they easily last 5 times longer than a regular needle. I LOVE them & they're certainly worth the price difference. I also do machine embroidery, which is how I discovered them & now I like to use them whenever I can. With regular needles, you know when to change them if you start getting puckers or other issues.

O.K., I confessed elsewhere on a post of my bad ways - now everyone knows :). Inspired by someone who changes her needle and oils the machine after every 2 bobbins used up - I shouldn't have to confess too much more....
BTW-the machine really didn't act up so much as it was the threading that was a bear-new Babylock :) :) a few years ago.

Ditto

When it breaks or catches on the material.

That would be me! and my 1936 Featherweight!

I tend to bend my needles so That is when I change them. Jan

So...I'm not sure if this is what you mean by "popping through the fabric", but my machine makes a loud thunk noise when the needle goes down and the bobbin swings...i would think that would be far too loud to be the fabric giving, but I also don't remember my machine always having made that noise. Is it because I need to change my needle?

The factories change the needles every 8 hours. As thoes needles get a lot hotter then the ones we use in our home machines. I like to change mine about every 8-10 hours or once a week.Hope this answers your questions.

:P

I have to chuckle, some of us are BAD, lol However I learned something here. I do not change it often enough. Always wonderdered what tha tping noise was :) :) :)

your supposed to change one before it breaks??? :shock: