I don't change the needle for every smaller project but for me, new quilt = new needle. Ready for FMQ on my DSM= new needle and different size. Kind of like hoping the stars are all aligned and crossing my fingers, hoping for the best:) I clean bobbin area each time I change the bobbin.

On my DMS I change at least every project, thread type change or when I hear that "thunking". On the long arm it is at least every quilt, although I'll use the same needle if I'm doing back to back crib quilts, etc. I figure changing the needle is somewhat like changing the oil on my car--a good preventative. Question--where do you buy Organ needles? I can't find them locally or JAF, Hancock's etc and sure do prefer them. Otherwise use Schmetz.

I buy them on eBay, I think the titanium ones I bought came in packages of 10.

I change mine often, but I do change my needle according to what I am working on. If just piecing I just a 70/10, a 75/11 or an 80/12 sharp, if sewing something thick I use a 90/14 or 100/16, and when quilting or doing something with a lot of decorative stitching I use a topstitch needle. So I have a roll of the blue painters tape in a drawer of the sewing cabt and mark on it what size needle is in the machine and the date I put it in and it's stuck to my sewing machine. I know my sewing machine dealer says I should change the needle every 8 hours of sewing, but I don't. My machine will also make a noise and then I know it's time to change. My quilting buddy is great for not even knowing what size needle is in her machine. Several times when i was up at her place sewing her machine would be making that noise and I had to tell her to change her needle. She does the same thing with the blades in her rotary cutter - she has terrible cuts in the mat because of dull blades and having to press too hard. She's the first one to tell you that she is so cheap, she squeaks when she walks. She's just too funny sometimes.

What does all the bold type mean? I know that 11,12,14,16 is the gauge of needle but what about the numbers before them?

Also how important is it to have a machine that offers the needle down stop position? The machine I am currently using does not have this option but I am looking into getting my own machine and want to make sure that it will last me a long time.

Thanks so much
<3 Mandi <3

European needle sizing (metric) goes from 60 to 120.
American needle sizing goes from 8 to 19.

http://sewing.about.com/od/sewingmac...Sizes.--94.htm

This is what I do also, once you get in the habit it is not big deal to remember :)

Judy in Phx, AZ

This is when I change my needle also...when I hear a thunk when going over a multiple intersection. Other wise I clean everything out when I run out of bobbin except for the needle that is only when I start to hear the thunk. I am trying to teach myself to change needle after every quilt now as I purchased 100 organ needles last month (well worth the price for so many)
Jeri

I was told when I first started quilting to change my needle every 8 hours of use and the guideline was every 3 bobbin fill-ups which was easy to understand. Now I use Aurifil 50 cotton thread which is so much finer so I change my needle every other bobbin fill-up or when I am starting quilting a new quilt. It may sound excessive but when I saw a group member ruin her new £350 machine with a cheap needle and saw the image of a dull needle, see below pic, a cost of a new needle pales into insignificance when compared to possibly ruining my lovely machines!

I broke my first needle last week...
So this week I ordered and bought about a dozen boxes of different gauges of needles. I store them in old pill bottles that are labeled with the size on the side and top. Its nice to be able to see how many needles I have of each size just at a glance. When they are laying down in a container it is much harder for me.