The needles that break for me seem to be the newer needles. I am using many needles from 50 or 60 years ago and those do not break. I use, as some have suggested, a car parts magnetic dish for my pins and use the base to find any such broken pieces or dropped pins and needles. I don't stop looking until I get the item and that is frustrating but oh so satisfying when I find it! Sorry this happened to you!