So glad this needle bending discussion has come up:)I just helped a friend on a repair...she fixed, I hand quilted and I went thru 2 needles...both gone now..both bent! I did get'r done...but, you would have thought the little part of quilting would have not been such a 'bender'....and, I used no hoop to do this...but, like that tidbit on if it is in a hoop..it could be too tight...I've prob done that before too:)