Hand Quilting Needles
 

I am inThe process of hand quilting my full size grandmother's flower garden quilt. My question is, how often should I change to a new needle? I am using 100% cotton batting.

When you start to have problems trying to get the needle into the material. You will know...

I usually change after I notice a bend in them from gripping the needle...or after about 8 hours.

Janet

Needles also 'lose' their color from the oils and such on your hands. That, a slight bend, or when they 'drag' through the fabric, is when I change my needle.

Jan in VA

My grandma, who taught me to quilt, always said when the needle got a bend in it that was when she did her best quilting cause it fit her hand!! LOL!! Honestly, I agree with Jan. :)

Kathy, I change my needle when it starts to drag. Good luck with the project. I'm presently hand quilting my great-grandmother's GFG. I started November 2011 and still working on it. Of course, it was just too warm this summer to hand quilt.

I usually change my needle when it breaks...I like the bend in it...it seems to help me keep smaller stitches...I guess I tend to break them before they drag

Same here......the bend does make smaller stitches for me, too.

That is so interesting that some of you can sew better with a bent needle. I'm trying to learn to hand quilt and it feels so awkward and clumsy. I've never used a thimble before and that is the worst part.

I usually start with only 18 inches of thread on about 10 needles. They seem to last a long time because I keep using a new one. Have a go it will be a succses or not for you . This tip was from famous hand quilters in UK.