Question about needle changing
 

So I was watching a video the other day and the host said that some people swear by changing their needles every 4 hours of quilting. How often do you prefer to change yours when quilting all 3 layers? What about when you are doing blocks? Is there a sign that I should watch for?

Thank you so much!

<3 Mandi <3

I'm wondering about this too.

I'm bad about not changing them until they bend or break.

I think they're supposed to make a little popping sound or bigger holes or something.

Mine is popping but maybe there's some glue on it. I should probably clean it and see if the noise goes away...

I buy Organ titanium needles and they seem to last forever! I have pieced about 6 quilts and quilted at least 4 quilts on the needle I am using now. Not sure how many hours that is, but at least 50. I am starting to notice the popping sound when the needle hits the fabric and was just thinking earlier today I should probably change the needle on my Juki and the blades on my rotary cutter.

i almost never change my needle... seems hard to believe. i don't hear any popping sound and it behaves well. i must say, though, that i change the one on my long arm on the frame more often, though. it starts acting up from time to time and i change the needle to see if that solves the problem.

I don't machine quilt but do piece by machine. And I'm another in the camp of 'change when it breaks'. I never hear a popping sound either - but maybe it's just my hearing?? But it does behave well so this process seems to work for me.

I use these too! Great needles. They save money because they last so long.

A local sewing machine guy said as a rule of thumb the needle should be changed after every 8 hours of use.

I guess I am the oddball here I was taught to change the needle every time I start a new project so that is what I do. I clean out my machine, oil and change the needle, oh and make sure bobbins are full.

I am bad too. I had a friend who did this and oil her machine every time she changed a bobbin. I usually can tell when my needle is dull and then I change it.

I try to change mine every 8 hours of sewing time (piecing, quilting, binding, mending, doesn't matter), more often if I'm doing a lot of paper piecing or sewing through a lot of fusible anything (web, stabilizer, etc) because of the added adhesive. Dull needles on mine do 'thunk' as they hit the fabric. They have to punch rather than pierce their way through.