noveltyjunkie

I only attend to it when it acts up. But it acts up a lot, so it is not as if I am leaving it for ages.

I am better at cleaning lint than changing needles- if it is still sewing OK I don't like throwing it away- and even if it is not sewing OK I keep it unless it is broken- never know when you might need an old needle for sewing paper or something!

Maggiemay

Not often enough to all of the above! I'm terrible about cahnging the needle unless I notice something sounds funny or I am having trouble. I do clean & oil pretty regularly. When I do change my rotary blades I am usually so irritated with myself for not doing it sooner!

janb

I brush the lint out of the bobbin area when I put in a new bobbin, amazing how much stuff comes out with my little paint brush. The needle is changed to accomodate the fabric I am sewing on, and I oil my machine when it begins to sound like it's in labor.

QuiltinginSD

I change my needle & clean the machine after each project. I don't oil it on a set schedule. I change my rotary blade when it starts skipping.

leatheflea

I change needles daily, if I use my machine all day. Most days I change. Cleaning the lint out, well I'm guilty of not keeping on top of that, but I do oil about once a week. Rotory cutter just when its starts to dull.

greensleeves

Same here with the machine. Hate a skipping rotary blade-if it skips, it goes.

MrsM

I was told to change my needle every 8 hours of sewing use. I try to clean my machine whenever I see alot of fuzz building up. I generally oil it then too.

watterstide

same here,although i probably clean the bobbin area more times than that... i put a drop on oil in her too, when i start a new project.

sew wishful

I inherited my moms "sewing stuff" and in it was a needle repair kit. It's about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, about 6 inches long and 1 1/2 wide and each side is covered with a cloth like rough material that I'm guessing will take "burrs" off the needle or sharpens it when you sew through it (without thread, of course...don't ask how I know this! DUH!!) Never have seen one in a store, so I'm pretty sure it's older than dirt.

sew wishful

My blade is doing that right now and it wasn't too long ago I changed it. I'm wondering if it's the mat. I'm working on quilt nine as far as the cutting mat goes. Do they wear out and could this be the cause of skipping rotary blades??