When to change your machine's needle?
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DC metro area
Posts: 1,286
I'm bad. I tend to change when they break or when they start pushing the fabric down into the feed dogs. I know, I'm supposed to change it whenever I start a new project but I never finish a project so I'm always starting a new project.
But I do change to a brand new needle when I'm attempting to fmq. I need all the help I can get when it comes to quilting.
But I do change to a brand new needle when I'm attempting to fmq. I need all the help I can get when it comes to quilting.
#4
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).
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,451
I'm like DogHouse, depends, on if I am doing ME, and # of stitches, and density of design. The sound of the machine, and the apprearence of the stitch........cheaper to replace a needle than pay for a repair......calla
#6
Every few hours - especially if I'm free-motion quilting, where the machine is running just about constantly between bobbin changes and repositioning.
The needle makes a thwap-thwap-thwapping sound when it's dulling, but I'd rather change it before it actually dulls.
The needle makes a thwap-thwap-thwapping sound when it's dulling, but I'd rather change it before it actually dulls.
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