Originally Posted by MsMel
I was told to change it between each completed quilting project. But am curious about what others might have to say on this one :)
That depends upon how big your "project" is. A bent or scarred needle with a burr can lead to wear on your thread and fabric as you piece it...not to mention lots of jams. I try to "listen" to my needle. It makes a certain noise as it goes into the fabric. When it gets dull or gets a burr, I can hear a different noise...a kind of quiet popping as it goes thru the fabric, as though I were sewing thru thin paper. Regardless, I usually change it every 10-15 hours of strong sewing. My machine just runs more smoothly. And if you are buying them at JoAnns with a half off coupon, they are really cheap compared to the hassle of a jam. If I have any kind of thread problem, putting in a new needle is the first thing I do.