Irish Rose, I'll check to see if it has a slight bow.
Thepollyparrot, that is the correct size needle. I did check the manual. The 6285 has seen a lot of usage so I will take out the needle and see if there is lint packed above the needle, and yes, I bought it new around 1985. My first free-arm machine!
virtualbernie, I change my needles after every quilt and sometimes during, about 8 hours of sewing. (I put the used ones in an empty pill bottle for safety and buy them in packages of 25)
I went back and looked at all my needles and they are 15x1 or Singer 2020 - for woven material, 2021 - for light knits, 2026 - Jeans or 2045 - labeled "all knits"
Thanks for chiming in.
piney