I feel your pain. I once broke 19 needles making a rag quilt of old blue jean patches. Needless to say, I have never made another one and I tried every heavy duty and not so heavy duty needle I had. . . I hope you won't give up. I wouldn't have but I used up my jeans scraps! LOL! Maybe there is a FMQ'er here who has the perfect answer for you! HUGS!