I can tell by the way my machine sounds. There is this faint thunking noise and then I know to change the needle. My kids can't hear it but I can.

I too use the titanium needles and love them. I can tell when they need changing because the needle makes a sort of "plunk, plunk" noise when it goes into the material.

Usually my bobbin will act up, i change my needle and its all better. Odd huh?

I can tell when the machine starts to make a rough sound and/or some missed stitches or the needle pulls threads in the fabric. I can also tell by putting my finger on the tip and you can feel a dull needle straight away!

Gal

if you can afford to buy in bulk, this website sells Organ brand titanium needles for home sewing machines.

100 needles (many sizes available) are $42.95

compare that to $6.99 per pack of 5.

you'd save 70%

(the large-eye needles for metallic - 2 sizes - are $58 per 100. 60% savings)

http://www.ctsusa.com/_e/dept/21/Hou...ne_Needles.htm

After 8 hrs.

Not enough at all! I try to just do it when they get dull.

I change mine about every 4 to 5 sewing hours - its hard to gauge though, you might have been 'sewing' for 6 hours the machine might have done half that, what with cutting out and pressing and rumaging etc....

I will look at the Titanium needles after my current supply runs out - thanks for the tip.

BTW - I never wait until the needle plunks - not very good for the machine and I also hate the needle to decide to be blunt right in the middle of something special.

When I used to buy needles a 5 pack at a time it was hard to keep tossing them, but then I started to buy the 'workshop packs' from my Bernina dealer - 100 needles in a little box, and its not so hard to throw one out now - the boxes still last me ages, I have about five different boxes on the go for different jobs, so thats a lot of needles!

I need this post sooooooooooooo bad. I, too, can hear when the machine changes it song. I hate so much to change the needle when it seems like I just put it in the machine. I am greedy for all the information I can get on this subject. I also need to be taught how to choose the correct needle for the fabric and/or project.

DSB - your machine manual should tell you what needle to use for what kind of fabric - but I THINK the smaller the number on the needle, then the thinner fabric it should be used for - I use a 10, 11, or 12 for cottons, 14 for denim - if I'm going through several layers of cotton & batting, I go with the 12 - but you will probably get more ideas from other members here, I'm sure! Or you could do a google search too!