How do you store and keep track of your machine sewing needles?
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Maine-ly Florida
Posts: 3,927
How do you store and keep track of your machine sewing needles?
Hi again,
I am looking for ideas for machine sewing needle storage. I have been way too relaxed about which needles I use and when I change them. Now that I am reorganizing, this seems like an area I can improve in. I'm interested in any suggestions.
Thank you and happy sewing,
lots2do
I am looking for ideas for machine sewing needle storage. I have been way too relaxed about which needles I use and when I change them. Now that I am reorganizing, this seems like an area I can improve in. I'm interested in any suggestions.
Thank you and happy sewing,
lots2do
#2
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 65
I use a small box (I think it's about 4x6) intended for embroidery floss. I probably bought it at Joanns. There are sections in the box that I use to organize the needles by size or type. I never put a used needle back in the original case. I have a 'tomato' pin cushion that I have marked into sections - each section is labeled according to the different types/sizes of machine needles. When I put a needle into my machine- either a new one or a used one from the pin cushion- I use a pin to mark the corresponding area on the pin cushion. No more guessing what type or size needle size is in my machine! Works for me!
Last edited by FGlinda; 08-09-2016 at 06:46 PM.
#5
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,127
I keep my packaged needles in a small clear box. I have seen hints that either you can use a light colored fabric or pincushion and place hardly used needles under marked sections on type of needles. I really liked when Schmetz started marking the needles with a dab of color.
#6
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
When I'm done with a needle, I use pliers and curl then toss. This way no one gets stuck. I also used take a small piece of cardboard or old stock and shove the needle into it without going out the other side. Again no one gets hurt.
#7
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,511
Needles are too inexpensive to spend my time saving them. Once it's out of my machine it's goes in the trash doesn't matter if I use it for an hour or a week. My new needles, which I have over 100 packs, are stored in pretty metal tin.
#8
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,503
I have a narrow but long plastic bin I found who knows where that my needle packs fit into. I organize them smallest size up front and larger sizes to the back. Odd numbers such as for metallic, jeans, topstitching get put after the regular size needles.
#10
Unless it is a quick use changeout (like sewing silk thread for a small project) then back to my regular wt, I also toss my machine needles out. I use empty plastic water bottles, preferably the small ones.
I store my new unused ones in their original packs. I do need a better way to hold those packs.
I had a class where the teacher suggested using one of those large tomato shaped pincushions. The tomato is "divided up" by lines and marked for quilting, microtex, etc, but I didn't like the method very well, since it wasn't going down to needle size, just type.
I have seen those magnetic needle holders that are sized like this one: Blue Feather myPad For Needles Machine Needle Organizer. I don't know how well they work.
I store my new unused ones in their original packs. I do need a better way to hold those packs.
I had a class where the teacher suggested using one of those large tomato shaped pincushions. The tomato is "divided up" by lines and marked for quilting, microtex, etc, but I didn't like the method very well, since it wasn't going down to needle size, just type.
I have seen those magnetic needle holders that are sized like this one: Blue Feather myPad For Needles Machine Needle Organizer. I don't know how well they work.
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