Hi I have a question: when I sew around my appliques & I have used the fusible webbing, the adhesive makes my needle sticky. and it will keep breaking the thread. Does it make sense to clean the needle or use a new one? What would I use to clean the needle?

I appreciate any & all response sandy

I had that problem too. I used quilters wax on the needle and it seemed to help a good bit.

Alchol works too, but that's why I don't use fusible very often, it's a pain.

I think I'd probably look into other brands of fusible web if that were happening to me. Not all of them gunk up the needle, machine or hand. Short term, I'd go with the alcohol (it cuts the gunk and evaporates quickly).

What brand of fusible are you using? Some types are not meant to be machine sewn.

I use steam a seam 2 and it works very well never had any issues with it, also something else you might want to look into are titanium needles. Chris

Steam a Seam 2 or Heat Bond Light won't gunk up the needle. I use Heat Bond Light. I took Pat Sloan class and she uses Heat Bond Light 95% of the time. She's known as the fusible queen of quilting. It's economical and available in most craft stores. WalMart here has it.

I only use Wonder under for fusible and never had a problem with it gunking up my needle or machine. Works for me Marge

If you are using the heavy duty Steam A Seam or Heat N Bond, it will gunk your needle up really quick, break the thread and completely ruin the needle. Ask me how I know?
Try the alcohol, that's what I had to do when I had my problem. Finally got the little project done and tossed the heavy duty stuff right into the trash!

I am a nurse and I had to look and see what the dirty needle was about, all I can say is throw it out!!!! LOL I used a fusible grid for a landscape quilt and it gunked up my needle, sewing machine and everything else. I will sew the little squares together without the grid fusible or I will sew on muslin....