How often do your change your machine's needle?

I was told to change it between each completed quilting project. But am curious about what others might have to say on this one :)

I'm bad. I tend to change when they break or when they start pushing the fabric down into the feed dogs. I know, I'm supposed to change it whenever I start a new project but I never finish a project so I'm always starting a new project.

But I do change to a brand new needle when I'm attempting to fmq. I need all the help I can get when it comes to quilting.

Yes, there is the "between each project" but one can go from a table runner to a king size quilt ... and a lot also depends on the type of piecing you are doing - little pieces (lots of seams), but pieces, paper piecing??

Other teachers will tell you after X hours of sewing, but of course the rules above will still differ to a degree what can be done in X hours. And the type of fabric, I think batiks are rougher on needles than a more open woven fabric. I'm not sure if heavy starch makes any difference or not - I guess it's possible.

So instead of counting hours and taking all of the variables into consideration ....

... I use my ear. I can hear the different sound an old needle makes as it pierces the fabric (soft thunk or pop) compared to a new needle (no sound or a very soft pfft).

I'm like DogHouse, depends, on if I am doing ME, and # of stitches, and density of design. The sound of the machine, and the apprearence of the stitch........cheaper to replace a needle than pay for a repair......calla

Every few hours - especially if I'm free-motion quilting, where the machine is running just about constantly between bobbin changes and repositioning.

The needle makes a thwap-thwap-thwapping sound when it's dulling, but I'd rather change it before it actually dulls.

i break all the rules in this area.....i change it when i break it from not moving my needle position back to normal when i change my pressure foot ;)

I agree with DogHouseMom. I can tell just by listening.

I also change my needle based on the sound the needles is making..

..or when I forget to change my setting on my Brother machine for needle placement and break one. UGH.

I mainly change it when it breaks.