Well, duh....
 

Well, I've been sewing for about 45 years now - quilting for about 7. With all those years experience, you'd think I would remember to clean out my machine and replace the needle once in a while. I was having difficulty while doing some applique this afternoon, and then it hit me..... get rid of the lint and replace the needle... DUH!!

I think that happens to everyone who isn't absolutely compulsive....at one time or another.

Color me compulsive, I guess. I am very faithful to clean my machines, and change needles. I have learned most problems people have are thread, needles, or lint build up.

I Agree with you. It truly is amazaing what difficulties a little lint and dull needle will cause.

I have the same problem, only with rotary blades. I will keep cutting with a dull blade, complaining mentally, until it hits me...."Time for a new blade." Sure makes a big difference!!

Dina

Count me in. I finally cleaned my "go to" machine - forgetting that the previous year I made a chenille and flannel quilt! The poor little thing never even quivered but imagine how much better it must have felt with all that garbage removed! I don't usually change a needle til it breaks.

Same here!! :D

Well it is hard to stop and do maintenance when you are having fun.

I'll second (or third?) that emotion. I'm not so much on "servicing" my Featherweight but I clean the lint out every time I sew (with a small, soft make-up brush) & I change needles with each new project. They're cheap & it makes all the difference in the world -- IMHO.

I guess I am compulsive too. When I purchased my Bernina my dealer emphasized the importance of cleaning and oiling every 3 bobbin fulls. So I only load 3 bobbins at a time. When I have used up my 3rd bobbin I stop and clean out the lint and give her a few drops of oil in the bobbin race. Needles I am not so good at. I change them for thread types or when I hit a pin and break them. The only other time I remember to change out a dull needle is if I am working with batiks. A dull needle makes a very distinct "popping" noise on batiks. So I will change out when I hear that noise.