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.

I'm just learning to handquilt too. I definitely like different sizes of needle better than other. First I started with some #8 from Walmart. Way too thick. So I got some #10 betweens from my local sewing store. I found them very hard to thread without breaking the thread (with a threader!) and they bent easily. But they slid through the fabric nicely.
Then I tried some #12 betweens. I think I've found my match. They're Clover needles, they are easier to thread, and they slide through easily but don't bend as easy as the tens.
I'd love to see pics of your work :)

Have you tried the little leather circles that are stick-on for your thimble? I bought about 8 thimbles before I found that and have, in turn, turned friends onto it. You can put it exactly where you need/want it, it's lightweight, and for me at least, extremely comfortable. I was unhappy with the traditional thimbles...felt like my finger was in a splint.