Originally Posted by
JustAbitCrazy
Mimsiroo, that is exactly what bearding is. Regarding the dull needle: I can usually tell my needle is dull when it makes a popping sound going through the quilt. I use a longarm, and am uncertain if the needle would make that sound on a DSM (not sure what you're using). But that sound usually never happens because I routinely change needles after each bed quilt, or the equivalent in smaller quilts.
The dull-needle popping noise also happens on a DSM. On my old Kenmore, it a dull needle would also have a different "feel" as it pierced the fabric . . . a sort of micro-second hesitation.