Good Use of Price Stickers
 

Here is a tip that I have been using forever and it works for me, so thought I'd pass it on.
How do you remember what size needle you have in your machine? I keep a supply of round price stickers (purchased from a local office supply store) on hand. When I put a new needle in the machine, I write the size and type of needle (embroidery, jeans, universal, quilting etc) and date on the sticker and put it on my machine. When I go to replace the needle (because I've used it for 12 hours or because I need a different size and type) I take it out and either dispose of it or put the sticker on the blunt end of the neeedle and place the needle in a special pin cushion I keep just for that purpose. You're Welcome.

Wait...you're supposed to change a needle after just 12 hours of use!?

I know I tend to wait too long (often I only remember to change it when it starts to sound "poppy") but I didn't know there was a 12 hour guideline. I TRY to remember change mine between every other quilt, which is probably a lot more than 12 hours of sewing for me. Or I'll (carefully & VERY gently) run my fingertip over the end of the needle if I can't remember when I changed it...if it catches on my fingerprint I figure it's still sharp enough to use.

The needle manufacturers say you're supposed to change it every 8 hours. But that's actual sewing time. I know I don't change mine quite that often but I do change it pretty regular. Since I have several types and sizes of needles I bought a plastic organizer thing that's just the right size to hold the needle packages. I think it's supposed to be for beads. Anyway, I put a button in the space that I take the needle out of. If I use a needle but it's still good I put it back in loose and that way I know it's still good but not brand new. The different color buttons in the box are for different machines.



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Looks like I need to get a lot more diligent about changing my needles!

Wow, Scissor Queen. I love your system of keeping track of needles. And using the button is a great idea!

I am also one that changes about every other quilt. unless one of them
requires a lot more sewing.

Yeah, I change more often than I used to, also, although I was always pretty good about it. To me, needles are the cheapest/most disposable tools we use and they can make the most difference.
I also remove the throat plate and bobbin assembly and clean out the 'dust bunnies' with a pastry brush each time I change the bobbin.

Jan in VA

thanks for the hint

My dealer shamed me into being much more diligent about cleaning out my bobbin assembly. They threatened to take my new machine back if I did as poor a job with it as I did with my first machine!! (They were kidding....mostly.) I don't clean it with every bobbin change though, I clean it probably once in the middle of a quilt and then again when I'm done - maybe once more somewhere in there if I'm using linty thread and/or flannel. I don't think I EVER properly cleaned out my first machine though, so that's a HUGE improvement! I thought occasionally blowing on the bobbin case was enough, LOL. And I shudder to think how old & dull the needle in that machine got. I plead youth & ignorance!

Although, my first machine does still work perfectly! It's a simple Kenmore/Janome from the mid 90's and built like a tank. I expect it'll outlive me, especially now that it's a backup. And that's with me sewing all kinds of crazy craft projects on it, some so thick I had to crank the wheel manually to punch through everything. What a great & forgiving machine...I'll never get rid of it!

This thread made me go change my needle in my main machine a moment ago, too. LOL

Well, of course they're gonna tell you to change the needle often; their business is selling you needles!!! :D

I change my needle, when it needs changing.