Every so often, my needle gets hard to push through the quilt. I have broken 3 needles because of this. Does anyone know how to make the needle go through easier. When I first start, the needle is really easy to push through, but after a couple of motifs sometimes rows, the needle starts to get harder to push through pretty soon it's breaking.

try running it threw piece of bar soap

If you're using a hoop, make sure you don't have your quilt sandwich pulled too tight - a little loose is better.

Hello and welcome on the Board!
Maybe you use a needle with a low quality and it is getting blunt very quickly. Some needle brands loose their nickel cover very soon because of your hand perspiration. Does your needle look dark grey and without glance? That indicates the loss of the nickel cover. I think it would be a good idea to try another brand.

Run your needle through Bee's wax before quilting. You can get it in little plastic containers made special for quilting. It helps your needle to slide through the fabric, as opposed to "stabbing" it. Also, are you using "between" quilting needle size? If you are using regular sewing needles, they are too big.

Can't help you, I'm not a hand quilter ... but ... Welcome from Minnesota!

Oh Susan, how frustrating that must be! I would try a larger size needle, for a bit more strength. I like Roxanne needles and Rose Cottage needles. I feel like the quality of my between needles really makes a huge difference.

Good luck to you with your quilting.

I agree with Andrea. That sounds to me like the needle is getting blunted quickly.

Personally I have never ever heard of running a needle through bees wax, only my thread and I do that to help prevent it knotting up.

A good quality needle will slide and glide through the quilt sandwich like a hot knife through butter and do so for a very long time. Ditch those dritz needles (or clover brand) and try a good quality quilting between. You will be amazed at the difference. My personal choice is Roxanne. Many hear like John James. There are lots of quality needles out there.

I've noticed that with embroidery needles recently. I wear the plating off in no time. I'd imagine going through two layers plus batting would be even worse.

I agree with feline, needle quality is so important.

I change needles as soon as I see the needle beginning to bend when pushing through, it generally means it's beginning to dull. I find that it's harder to keep stitches small then.

Good luck

welcome!

Welcome from Ireland

I had that problem also. My needles even bent at times. It was my needles.

Hello, and welcome from Idaho!

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!

Welcome and Howdy from Kentucky! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...um/welcome.gif

Hello, and welcome from Michigan!

Welcome from Michigan.

Hello and welcome fron Ontario Canada

When I used to pin diapers, I would run the pin through my hair. It worked every time.

Hello and Welcome from Michigan!!

Welcome from Kansas. Wish I could help you, but my hands will not hold a needle. All machine sewing.

Welcome from WV. Can't help with hand quilting, but sounds like you have gotten good advice already on that score. I found out early on that a hand-quilter I would never be, so it is the machine for me. Hope you find the right needles to speed you through.

Welcome from Texas. I think your problem will disappear if you get some quality needles like Roxanne.

Welcome from WI

I use John James needles or EZ and a number 9 . Be sure they are betweens

You can sew through aluminum foil a few layers thick and it will sharpen the needle. I don't know why, just learned it from a friend

welcome from se TX

Hello from Western Mountain Maryland !!
I use Sewer"s Aide, it can be used on thread, sewing feet,hand needles, & machine needles. I get it at Joanna's

Welcome from California. I had problems with needles breaking and also bending until I got some John James (brand) needles. I have some Roxanne needles but the eye is so small they are hard to thread, and my needle threader won't work on them. The John James needles are the best I have found for the hand quilting I do. Good luck.

:Hey....I remember doing that....that was a long time ago!

Welcome from San Gabriel, California

I use either Roxanne or John James betweens and usually have 5-6 threaded so that I don't have to stop and re-thread and I am not using the same one all the time. Once the needle gets a bend in it - time to throw it away. (I put my used/broken pins and hand or machine needles in an old prescription bottle. Less dangerous than just tossing in the garbage.

i USE THE SIZE 9 NEEDLES BY CLOVER. THEY ARE VERY SHARP, ALSO VERY SMALL BUT THEY GO THROUGH THE LAYERS SO EASY. ALSO KEEP A PAIR OF SMALL NEEDLE NOSED PLIERS HANDY WHEN IT WON'T PULL THROUGH EASY ENOUGH FOR ARTHRITIC FINGERS.

There is a product called thread heaven, look on line, you just run your thread through the little can and it makes your thread go through the material easier.

Old quilter-when I started quilting we did not have the nice slection of needles that we do now, we would runthe needle through our hair every once in a while. It seamed to oil the needle with out making a mess.

Try bees wax

after some many use's i change my needle http://hubpages.com/hub/Hand-sewing-...Sewing-Needles this might help

I find it gets like that from your own hands, the oil, wash your
hands and just wipe off the needle. Good Luck.

I like Clover needles. Also, if using a hoop, I agree that the "sandwich" shouldn't be too tight.

I have a tiny (1/4 inch) of surgical tubing that I got from Ace Hardware around my thimble. When I grip the needle with my thumb and thimble finger, the needle pulls through easily.

Linda