Can anyone out there help me understand the WHY of why we should change our sewing machine needles so often? I have enough to change mine once a week for the next 6 months and have some more on the way that a friend is gifting me with. I am just curious as to the WHY of what we do. Anyone?

ReRe

I don't, I just can't make myself change if I have not seen any problems, like chunking dimes out the window.

I have often wondered this as well, but I think it is a but like changing the tyres on your car- it's to stop something worse afflicting you!

Needles wear out. The points get dull and can damage your fabric and can cause the machine not to work as well. Keep changing them -- often :lol: :lol:

As long as my skin still gets stuck into the needle when I 'tip' it to see if it is still sharp I am probably not going to dump it yet. /Regards, Dorothy

:lol: :lol:

My reasoning for what it is worth. Change them when you hear a popping sound, used it for paper piecing, hit a pin. Yes, i change often, not as often as maybe I should. Have you ever taken a magnifying glass and compare the tip of the one you are taking out to the one you are putting in? The tip wears out, so it is not sharp enough to go between the threads of the fabric but will punch a hole through it.

It's the sound........worn out needles sound different.
I like the comparison to car tires and realize I need to do two things more often; check tire pressure and change sewing machine needle!

I do not change mine unless it breaks. If you are not having problems why through money away?

I bought one of these and it gives my needles (hand and machine) a few more miles.
http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-Machine-...8252453&sr=8-1

I buy my needles at half off, so I get 10 needles for 5.99. the tension on your machine is better with a needle that is not dull, or bent.

I was always told dull needles are bad for the fabric

I change mine often. About every two or three projects that I work on. I buy them when they are half off, so they are really not that much. My thinking is why try and save a few pennys, when I have spent so much on my fabric. Kind of like wearing a dress from Nordstroms and shoes from Wal-mart.

I like this anaology!!! :) :) :) :)

It does make sense to use needles that are in good condition that are appropriate for the task.

Ones that have a rough tip can really mess up one's fabric

Or - like wearing a new (or new-looking) outfit with broken-down, scuffed shoes.

Needles should be changed every 8-10 hours of sewing, due to the fact that needle develop a burr on the tip. Think how many times is just one hour that needle has gone in and out of your fabric...a dull needle will punch a larger hole in your fabric, cause tension to be off, and on some fabrics catch on the fabric and cause a pull.
I was trying to get a bit more mileage out of a needle and the burr caught on the diaper that I was making a bit fancy and created a pull all the way across. I now have a fancy dust cloth...

If one sews "over" pins, but one manages to hit one of the pins with the machine needle, that messes up the needle point.

I change my needles as soon as I see any "problems" with the way they are working or start hearing the "clunking" noise. I buy them from www.cleanersupply.com. They are $1.75 for pack of 10 and shipping is between $3-4 so I stock up and buy 10 packs at a time. At only 21 cents/needle (including shipping costs) I can replace frequently without concern about money.

I change my needles only when I have to ie. break. I know. Not good.

Hi ReRe. I change my needle with each new quilt or so. Dull needles can cause problems, just like anything that is sharp and gets dull.

ditto

I buy my needles by the hundred packs. I change mine frequently....saves a lot of trouble . Why worry about a nickle piece when you're using a machine that is worth a lot of money and chance having to send in your machine for repairs or ruining your work. Seems like cheap insurance.

Well said. A dull needle will also put a bigger hole in the fabric than necessary. I don't change mine as often as the experts recommend, but I always know when I am past the point. I can actually feel and hear the difference.

Old needles can be used for paper pieced perforations.

I don't change mine often enough. You are changing my mind here. I'll spend a few cents to save a lot.

Needles are cheap compared to what I paid for my machine and fabric. Just taking good care of an investment, but then I am one of those silly people who oils and cleans my machine, too.

LOL! Amen!
i just cleaned my little travel Janome, and i could not belive the lint that was built up in between the feed dogs...
i have/use a few mascara brushes that i got at a make-up counter for free.

My sewing machine is my friend, I clean, oil and maintain her including changing needles, often! I like to hear her purr along!!! This way I trust our friendship will last for many many years to come!



Gal

I change mine everyday!
moring routine is wind several bobbins and change the needle.
but I sew 8-10 sometimes 12 hours a day!
They do get dull and your piecing is more accurate with a sharp needle!

This I totally agree with.

I do not want a small part possibly ruining a quilt.

me too.

Any time I notice there being a problem with my stitching the first thing I check is the needle, and usually it turns out to be a little bit bent or to have a burr on it.

I use an old panty hose to sew through and if the needle doesn't snag the hose then I figure my needle it all right for a little longer.

ReRe[/quote]

I use an old panty hose to sew through and if the needle doesn't snag the hose then I figure my needle it all right for a little longer.[/quote]

What a great idea!!!

I have been sewing for many, many years and put miles and miles of sewing on my machines. You can feel of the needles and use your finger nails to feel for burrs. If so either throw it away or file it if possible. I usually just threw them away as I had already gotten my moneys worth. Also learn to feel the tip. Use a new needle and compare it to the used one. You will soon be doing this as a regular check just like taking care of your machine. Hope this helps. I still have a lot of needles, but am too chinzy to waste them.

Sewing, going through fabric, dulls the needles' point and will eventually start pulling the threads of your fabric instead of piercing through them or going inbetween the threads. It's not a thought the manufactures thought up. I will change mine maybe every 2-3 weeks depending how much sewing I do. If I have made a large quilt, say a queen, I will change it when I finish the quilt. I definately change it if the sound of the needle going through the fabric changes sounds, kind of a thump,thump. Also if I hit pins, that really dulls and can cause burs on the needle as well as damage your fabric. Hopes this helps.

I've heard you can sew through fine sandpaper to sharpen needles. I haven't tried it though.

I read a couple of responses that referred to changing tires, so somehow I've got to compare changing needles to old tires
When I was dating (many many years ago) Dad always checked the tires on the vehicle the guy was driving, I guess he thought if they had good tread, their priorities were in the right order.
I never discussed needles with him, but I do know that since I've been married, whenever we borrowed anything from him we had to fix it first
If I had to guess when I change needles, I guess it's when I hear the popping

I switched to the titanium needles and one will last through many quilts. I save more money then they cost! I will not drive or ride in any car with worn tires. That's a death wish. Tires are like needles, buy the best and they last long enough to pay for themselves.

A dull needle is not good change often. Bearding can occur for one. It is when there are white dots appearing on the fabric caused by the batting coming thru from a dull needle. Someone mentioned popping noises from punching thru material breaking the threads from a dull needle. also skipped stitches come from a dull or bad needle due to the scarf on the back side out of shape so as not to pick up the thread from the hook properly. A new sharp needle is a small thing but very important. I have only been quilting for a short time. My mother was a seemstress for years and her advise to me "change your needle often" :)