I watched a Leah Day video in which she says she changes her needle after every other bobbin change. Do you think she'd send me her 'used' needles? I use mine much longer than that. Seriously, I was FMQ yesterday on a queen sized quilt and I used about 6 bobbins in just a few hours. It wasn't a new needle to begin with, and I have no intention of changing it now. I think it still has lots of stitches left in it. I'll change it when I notice that it's dull.

I'd take some, too! :D LOL

What great information. Just what I've been looking for - thank you for posting!

I use the Superior top stitch needle...they last a long time. When you hear an unfamiliar clack, clack, clack..it is definitely time to change. I usually change after quilting several handbags or a large quilt. i do not throw that needle away if it is not bent or broken. I save it marked used and keep it for emergency projects like ...if you break a needle trying to topstitch a very thick tote...I don't want a new needle for that because it might break again.

Probably not as often as I should. I can hear/feel when it is time to change it. The sound changes to a much louder and duller thud.

Like so many on here I change when it feels wrong or is making clunking sounds. I think the needle is the area many of us neglect.

I know there are a lot of recommendations as to when to change a needle. My machine makes a different sound when it needs a new needle, so I change it then, or when I accidently tap a straight pin when sewing, Sometimes I change it when using a different fabric weight. There are really no "rules" that I am aware of, so I would recommend that you change needles when you feel like you need to,.

all of the professionals that I've met say every 8 hours. I'm not so good with that. If you hear your machine making a thumping noise, I'll bet its your needle.