Changing needles?? Schedule??
 

It occured to me that the only time that I change my needle other than when it breaks, is when the machine starts to make a clunking sound. Is it hard on the machine to not change it regularly after a certain amount of hours of sewing? Do all of you change your needles on a regular basis?

I try to stick with the recommended 8 hours of machine use between changes, but it's probably more than that. That would be a great add-on for machines...a timer that automatically clocks machine running time and buzzes at 8 hours while flashing a message on the display screen. A lot of quilters change needles at the beginning of each project, at the same time they clean out all the bobbin lint.

It's been suggested that you change the needle every time you start a new project. So, if you call a queen/King size quilt a project, you could probably do 2 smaller quilts before changing the needle. I don't always change my needle this often, but I did have a lot of needles breaking when I was using the Flynn frame ( I think it was loaded improperly)

I don't change needles til they break. Not too often. None of my machines are fussy with needles or threads.

I change the needle when I start a new project and when I finish it I change it again before I start quilting.
Debbie

I'm the one who doesn't seem to ever remember to change my needle... i used the original one in my most recent purchase for 22 quilt projects. i didn't have any issues - no barbs, no snags, no 'large' holes, nothing - didn't even 'think' about it until I was reading the owner's manual trying to find the correct foot for something!

I change mine at the end of each large project when I am cleaning my bobbin case, or after two small projects like baby quilts.

I don't change my needle unless it breaks, which is very seldom and that's usually due to the fact that I moved the needle and changed the needle plate and forgot to move it back, or I need a different size due to the fabric, but I will reuse the needle. I've never had any problems with clunking, snagging, etc.

I don't change my needle very often. I've never had a problem and I seldom break a needle. Sometimes I think about changing the needle, but forget by the next time I use the machine. Short attention span I guess. lol
Sue

Until I got my current machine, I almost never changed my needle. When I bought this machine, 13 years ago, I was told to change my needle every 8 hours. I change my needle with each new project. Like Ghostrider, I think an 8 hour timer on the machine would be a great idea. I do use lots of different needles for different kinds of sewing.