I have a small jar, I think Marachino cherries came in it, that I keep near my machine or within easy reaching distance of whatever project I'm working on at the time...needles get dull, I just toss them in the jar. I also, toss my old straight pins in there when they are too bent to use or the heads fall off. I recently started quilting but everything I'm doing, so far, is by hand. I have bent several needles while doing applique and hand quilting my wall hanging, into the jar they went. I think the needle that's in my machine right now has probably been in there for 5 or more years. I only sew when I need to mend something...guess I'll be changing that needle sooner than I thought.