Wednesday, November 03, 2010

question for you

I got an email recently asking me how often I change my needle on my sewing machine. Here's what I replied:

"I don't change needles super often... I try to change after I quilt a quilt, or if I can hear the needle popping through the fabric. I don't think you need to change your needle as often as "they" say if you're sewing wovens. Knit fabric on the other hand, you can ruin it easily if you don't replace your needles fairly often, after every 3-4 garments probably."


So what about you? How often do you change your sewing machine needle? Anyone out there who hasn't ever changed their needle?

Oh yeah, and I've been meaning to do this for a while, if you have any questions for me, sewing or otherwise, feel free to ask in the comments! 

7 comments:

Angela Nash said...

When doing the actual quilting, I only use a needle for one quilt. When I'm piecing, I generally change it after a whole quilt or if my stitches start to skip.

Fairly often for me - I stock up on needles using half off or other great deals at JoAnns.

Anonymous said...

I change my needle after each project I am doing If I remember. (I don't always remember) or If it's not a big project then maybe I make it strech out to three or four. I have been sewing for 50 Years and when I was younger I didn't change it as often but then I didn't have as good of a machine as I do now.

Unknown said...

I am a bad, bad girl. I hate to admit it but I usually only change my needle when it breaks. (Unless I'm switching out between my regular needle and my quilting needle.)

Unknown said...

I'm pretty good about changing needles every 6-8 hours of sewing for my regular sewing machine. In my longarm I change it every 2 or 3 quilts or so just so I make sure I don't have any issues. I put all my used needles in an old medicine bottle and just throw them in there until it fills up then discard. It keeps accidents from happening.

Nancy said...

Not often enough! But I do change depending on the project. Some needles I keep aside for sewing through paper projects, and I use machine quilting needles for some projects. But when I'm piecing cotton, I just keep the needle in there and fail to pay attention to when it was last changed.

Unknown said...

I change my needles after every other project, unless im sewing knits, them I will change it after every project.

i buy them cheappp at allbrands by the 100's so i dont feel so guilty. I prefer Organ needles over other brands.

Sue said...

I change my needles after about ten hours sewing. I then use them for sewing on paper etc. until I can't any longer! I popped over from Stash Manicure....Loved your post over there and you have an awesome blog. I will be visiting again, soon!