I have been experimenting with machine quilting - different threads and needles. I am keeping a written journal of what works best with what, but tonight I found myself confused. I'm not sure what needle I have in the machine. The system I had going of leaving the needle pack open from which the current one came has failed me, since I have two open packs next to my machine, each with one needle out of it.

I do know that the size is engraved in teeny print on the shaft, but I cannot begin to see that. There must be a magnifying glass around here someplace, but this is way too labor intensive.

I need a better plan and I'll bet you people already have one to share with me. *S*

Do you write in your journal what needle you have in the machine? Would that work?

What works well for me is, as soon as I get them, I put a dab of wild Halloween fingernail polish on each needle. One dab for one size with the identical number written down on a piece of paper that I tape on the package, with the right size, two dabs with number written down. I can see right away what size it is, even without being able to find my magnifying glass. Of course I have to use something to see the numbers in the first place, but then the glass can stay lost for a while.

The dabs of fingernail polish goes under the gripper so it does not affect the sewing.

yes, I do record which needle I am using for which test piece, but today I changed test pieces. Did I change that needle? I don't think so, but did I yesterday?

Old People and Memory....LOL

Ramona, I like your fingernail polish idea! Now I'll have to go buy a bottle of it. But please, what do you mean by the "gripper"?

I have my machine needles in a large pill box type thing. I put a button in the section that I took the needle from.

I put a post-it note on my machine when I change needles.
Sharon

After tossing many good machine needles because I had no idea what size they were I made myself know what needle I am using in my machine. I write down the size and type of needle when I change it and write the date and time too. I have started using Organ Titanium coated topstitch needles so when the other brands I have are used up, keeping track won't be hard, the needles are colored coated so I can see at a glance what they are.

I keep an index card in my drawer and write the date, type and size of
needle. That way I know for how long I've been using the same needle
too.

I use a tomato pincushion and write the sizes on the sections. I put a regular ball-tip pin in the section with the needle size that's in my machine.

Now I am going to sound really dumb, and I am asking a really dumb question, but why is this such a big deal? I have sewed garments for many many years, and except for the right size needle for the fabric I am using, I've never given much thought to thread size/type versus needle size, or how long the needle has been used. I usually use a needle until it breaks. Maybe I've just been lucky, but it has never seemed to be a problem for me. Explanation, please.

You need different size needles for different fabrics.

I was sewing a purse handle the other day and kept getting skipped stitches. Re-threaded the machine several times including the bobbin. Cleaned really good. Then finally read the manual for troubleshooting. My needle wasn't big enough and once I put a larger needle in, my machine sewed perfectly.

The manual that comes with your machine should have a reference list for matching fabric with needles. If you don't have a manual, look online, there are lots of free manuals online.

I know why you use different size needles, I just wonder why you all seem to think you have to use new needles
so often . I've heard comments like I change needles with every new project I start. Seems like a waste to me, especially if you are using the same fabrics. I don't mean changing when you get a burr or bent, etc. I mean just changing so often when there doesn'T seem to be anything wrong with the needle that is in there.

Because they get dull. They get dull a lot faster than you would think too.

But if they are going in and out of the fabric, and the holes aren'T showing, and it isn't breaking fabric threads while doing so, then I can't see where the needle is too dull . So aren"t you just doing something because someone tells you it needs to be done? I"d like a really good reason, an example.

I do the same thing, except my pincushion is flower-shaped. Great minds, I guess! :wink:

To keep track of which needle is in my machine, I use a small loop of (non-residual) tape on the back of the needle pack and stick it onto the front my machine.

I like to keep track of my needles because I like to use the right needle
for the job. It makes a big difference. As to changing needles, I change
whenever I feel like but not too often...depending how much I've been
sewing and what I've been sewing. Fleece will make your needle dull
very quickly. But to each his/her own, I guess. :)

Here's a neat machine needle organizer for those interested.
I think I should make one of those for myself. :D
http://site.iwebcenters.com/bluefeat...tMainPhoto.jpg

I don't use a new needle each time. I'd never be able to keep track because I have more than one project going at a time, usually. The pincushion works great because I can just put the needle back in it when I take it out of my machine. If I think it's getting near the end of its life I'll put is down toward the middle of the pincushion and use it for less critical projects.

All of you have such great ideas! And the best thing here is that now I know I'm not the only one who has had trouble keeping track of my needles. This is quite reassuring. *S*

I most like the suggestion of the post it note. I use post it notes regularly when I'm piecing - why didn't I think of this one? Now if I can just remember to do it.

I never thought about recording the insertion date, and I should do that too. I know I've used the same universal needle for piecing long past its prime.

Thanks for all the responses!

We learned that a a quilting class and I never forget now... Really like the idea.

Check out this link from Superior Threads, talking about needles. Turns out you only need Topstitch needles - they handle everything. Dr. Bob know his thread and needles, his company depends on it. He'd make more $$ if he did like all the other companies and put out all the different kinds of needles, but he only recommends the topstitch for our home machines.

http://www.superiorthreads.com/shop/...s/description/

Superior Topstitch needles by Organ are the only ones I buy now. They make a big difference in my fmq. Superior is a good company and stands behind all their products.

I was going to try their topstitch needle but then at least 2 people on the janome 6500/6600 email group said that they didn't work in their 6600. They both said they were too long. Is Organ the same? they have a titanium topstitch needle too.
http://www.discountembroiderysupply....nd-Titanium%29

Same fabric no problem, switching thread? now you may need to switch the needle too. Some of the threads I use for quilting are thicker than what I use for piecing. If you do thread painting/embellishments/applique, you could be using a multitude of different weight threads. So I have needles with larger openings, in different sizes to accomodate these threads.
I also use a larger needle for quilting than I do for piecing... I found I was bending a size 80 when FMQ so a size 100 works better for me.

I have on of those, I like the tomato pin cushion with the sizes written on it the best.

I would call Superior on Monday. They are AWESOME to work with, and extremely knowledgeable. If you need a different length needle for your specific machine, they will know it.

clem55-I'm like you, I change the needle when I break it or when I change to much heavier fabric. I even do my machine quilting with a 12.

Same here. I'm really bad following the rules with needles!!

I'm chuckling because having a dull needle in my machine is what got me my Janome 6600P! I was FMQing on my little Janome Memory Craft 3000 with Fairfield Processing Cotton Classic in the sandwich. The needle was dull, but I was on such a roll, I didn't want to stop and the stitching was just fine. It just made a horrible thunk, thunk, thunk.

Better tell you that my machine sat in the windows of the sewing room. We had a terrible hail storm that broke out all the windows on the south side of the house. This machine was covered in water, broken glass, leaves, twigs, etc. I let it sit, untouched for a week and then tried it - worked just fine - still does.

Back to the story. DH came into the room and commented that he thought the machine was about to die. Actually he said, "crash" as he's a PhD in computer science. I agreed, "Yeah, it probably is." I wasn't about to say anything re. the dull needle as I wanted a new machine! ☺ I had seen the 6600P at the LQS and is was love at first sight. I had mentioned to DH that I was wanting a machine with more decorative stitches, and he had said I ought to get one. However, he was recovering from the amputation of his leg and open heart surgery - all in the same stay at the hosp. & I wanted him to say to buy it. I dragged him to LQS a couple of months later, plopped him in front of the store machine to look at it. In the meantime - I shopped! He finally told me to buy it, but that was after I had piled up about $300.00 worth of stuff and fabric!

I love my 6600P! (and DH, too, of course!)