When to change your machine's needle?
09-06-2011, 01:23 PM
#11
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Camarillo, California
Posts: 35,242
Originally Posted by DogHouseMom
Yes, there is the "between each project" but one can go from a table runner to a king size quilt ... and a lot also depends on the type of piecing you are doing - little pieces (lots of seams), but pieces, paper piecing??
Other teachers will tell you after X hours of sewing, but of course the rules above will still differ to a degree what can be done in X hours. And the type of fabric, I think batiks are rougher on needles than a more open woven fabric. I'm not sure if heavy starch makes any difference or not - I guess it's possible.
So instead of counting hours and taking all of the variables into consideration ....
... I use my ear. I can hear the different sound an old needle makes as it pierces the fabric (soft thunk or pop) compared to a new needle (no sound or a very soft pfft).
Other teachers will tell you after X hours of sewing, but of course the rules above will still differ to a degree what can be done in X hours. And the type of fabric, I think batiks are rougher on needles than a more open woven fabric. I'm not sure if heavy starch makes any difference or not - I guess it's possible.
So instead of counting hours and taking all of the variables into consideration ....
... I use my ear. I can hear the different sound an old needle makes as it pierces the fabric (soft thunk or pop) compared to a new needle (no sound or a very soft pfft).
This is what I do too. I can hear the soft little pop when the needle is getting dull. Then I change it.
09-06-2011, 03:48 PM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 3,459
Depends what I'm making. Maybe every two big projects.
But if I will change my needle immediately after sewing micro-fleece
because the needles gets so dull. A good indication that the needle
needs to be changed is when the thread starts to break or nest for no
apparent reason. I so use leaders and enders when sewing.
But if I will change my needle immediately after sewing micro-fleece
because the needles gets so dull. A good indication that the needle
needs to be changed is when the thread starts to break or nest for no
apparent reason. I so use leaders and enders when sewing.
09-06-2011, 04:26 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: on the Iron Range in northern Minnesota
Posts: 364
Hi,
My Babylock dealer told us to change our needle every 8 hours of sewing, or at the start of a new project, use your good judgement. But, don't wait until it breaks or bends etc.!
I know with my embroidery I can tell when I need a new needle, my thread starts breaking, change the needle, problem solved.
Needles are cheap, machines and our fabrics are not.....
Bev
My Babylock dealer told us to change our needle every 8 hours of sewing, or at the start of a new project, use your good judgement. But, don't wait until it breaks or bends etc.!
I know with my embroidery I can tell when I need a new needle, my thread starts breaking, change the needle, problem solved.
Needles are cheap, machines and our fabrics are not.....
Bev
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