I just heard the sirens scream past the house, they missed me again. I only change my needle when it breaks, and I have no idea what size it is. My cutter gets changed when it just wont cut any more, about 4 months after it should have been. I seam with either white or black thread and only change it if too many pieces are the wrong shade. I have never bought fabric just for a quilt yet. I have been sewing for almost 40 years so thought making quilts I would use up all my old fabric from the girls clothes. Yes flannel, light denim and cotton as well as poly all go in the same quilt! If it looks good it is good! Most of my points match but if not that what the quilting is for (stitching covers all). But with enough starch and my steam iron, any thing can be made flat!