Seriously? Y'all change your needles that often? I've never heard of this rule! I never change my needles until one breaks --maybe every hundred or so sewing hours -- and I've never had a problem.

I don't do the actual quilting on my machine, I only put the pieces together, but I didn't know I was supposed to change the needle.

I'm learning a lot from you all.

Are you telling me that I should change it?
It's still working, and I'm sure, almost possitive that I changed it when my son left for the Navy when he was 18. His birthday was last month and he was...

Okay, it's time to change it. My 43 year old son gave me a gift certificate to Joann's.....................

Do any of you use the needle sharpners that I have seen in the quilting notion catalogs?

Me too. I have never heard a "pop" when piecing. I don't quilt on my DSM, but on my LA I use titanium needles that do tell me that the needle needs to be changed with a "pop". When I used cheaper needles on my LA I changed the needle with every new quilt on the frame, but with the titanium needles I was told that they would last much longer - like 4-6 quilts compared to 1 quilt. They seem to be as advertised!

I don't change mine until it breaks either! Of course, my reason is because I simply can't afford to. Heck, I've sewn for years with the same needle! If I knew how to do the embarrassed face, it would be right -----> here.

Go to Schmetz needles web site as well for info.
Matching the appropriate needle to yur project will also help in lengthening the life.

I recently read this as well, every 8 hours of sewing time.

Unless you keep track of hours of use, the best rule of thumb is a new needle for each new project. (Heard this from a Schmetz rep at a guild meeting once) The other hint is when you notice you're skipping stitches.
"When in doubt, swap it out!"

I change mine whenever I start a new project.

I watched a segment on Martha's Sewing Room with a Rep from Schmetz I think. He was saying our needles are the least expensive part of the sewing process! Buying in bulk I think they are much less than .75cents each! When you think about it, that's pretty true. A single spool of thread these days is spendy. Sooo... it makes it easier to justify.changi g needles more often realizing they really don't cost us a fortune!