Do you change your needle?

[Jules M.]

I'm pretty persnickity about changing my needle. OFTEN. I suppose the Schmetz people should like me.

Yesterday when I had my machine in for cleaning, he asked if I changed my needle. Yes, that one has 10 hrs on it... time for a new one but I left it in for the cleaning. He said my machine was fine and the needle was fine. Just chatting... the machine he did before mine.... last night?... was NOT fine. Bone dry for one. But then after all his cleaning & oiling it still wasn't making a good stitch. He put in a new needle -- like a brand-new machine!! He said the needle in there was 1/16" shorter than it was supposed to be! :shock:

It was a 180 and I think the owner thought maybe 8 or 10 yrs old. I forget that number. A low number of stitches. Poor machine... needs a more loving home! :P

[Pamela O.]

I once asked a friend how often she changed her needle. Before she answered, I said "When it breaks?" Her answer was yes. Needless to say she got some much needed education on needles!

[Betty J.]

Needle companies should love me--I buzz through needles fairly frequently. I will say, though, that I change them less often since I begun using titanium needles...they stay sharp and good a lot longer. Cheers.

[Betty J.]

I change it when it starts to make that little tick noise or somehow bend the needle. I can definitely hear the difference and depending on what i am sewing depends on how long the needle lasts.

[Dawn S.]

Okay, so my question here is; at what rate of speed is a needle rated to go x amount of hours? I quilt VERY slowly so can put 8 to 10 hours on it in one day, but have only finished one small section of my quilt I may not change the needle for 20 or 30 hours. If I'm getting a good stitch, and there is no "ticking" sound, no threads breaking, etc, I keep on going with the same needle. But, I am always careful to use the right needle for the thread I am using. I love a size 8 Microtex, but break them to frequently, so now use a 10. I think I might get some titaniums in Houston, though.

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Jules M.]

I once asked a friend how often she changed her needle. Before she answered, I said "When it breaks?" Her answer was yes. Needless to say she got some much needed education on needles!

I've done that same thing... filled in the answer for them. I get the reaction like I'm made of money and just change my needle willy-nilly. :roll:

[Jules M.]

Needle companies should love me--I buzz through needles fairly frequently. I will say, though, that I change them less often since I begun using titanium needles...they stay sharp and good a lot longer. Cheers.

Yes, I'm using more titanium ones too. Anxious for my last order to arrive from Superior... more silk thread and 70 topstitch titanium needles!

[Jules M.]

Okay, so my question here is; at what rate of speed is a needle rated to go x amount of hours? I quilt VERY slowly so can put 8 to 10 hours on it in one day, but have only finished one small section of my quilt I may not change the needle for 20 or 30 hours. If I'm getting a good stitch, and there is no "ticking" sound, no threads breaking, etc, I keep on going with the same needle. But, I am always careful to use the right needle for the thread I am using. I love a size 8 Microtex, but break them to frequently, so now use a 10. I think I might get some titaniums in Houston, though.

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

I would think you are fine. I haven't used titaniums enough to know much but think they are great!

[Jules M.]

I save the titaniums for metallic threads and quilting where it needs a little more of a "work horse" to last longer. For piecing, I like to use bottom line thread with a smaller needle. I really notice the difference when I use a 50 wt. thread for piecing, end up ripping it out and return to bottom line because it feels too "bulky". The 50 wt just takes up too much of a press fold. Try it and see the difference. Now I buy the bottom line on the cone and use nothing but that for piecing. Also with titanium, they seem to bend more than snap off and fly to god knows where. (it's happened to me a few times)

[Jules M.]

I try to change my needle fairly often, but absolutely when I start to hear a popping sound as it passes through the fabric. The strange thing is that I bought some titanuium needles and they make that sound from the get go. I keep trying them off and on, but I haven't fallen in love with them yet. Has anyone else had this problem? I haven't noticed if it only happens on a certain type of fabric, like batiks, and should probably check that out.
Cindy

[Margo C.]

I save the titaniums for metallic threads and quilting where it needs a little more of a "work horse" to last longer. For piecing, I like to use bottom line thread with a smaller needle. I really notice the difference when I use a 50 wt. thread for piecing, end up ripping it out and return to bottom line because it feels too "bulky". The 50 wt just takes up too much of a press fold. Try it and see the difference. Now I buy the bottom line on the cone and use nothing but that for piecing. Also with titanium, they seem to bend more than snap off and fly to god knows where. (it's happened to me a few times)

Cheryl, do you have trouble with the beginnings and endings of your seams coming unstitched when you use Bottom Line, or do you backstitch everything? I find that the slippery polyester comes undone too easily.

Here is Superior's description of Bottom Line:
Designed by Libby Lehman for quilting, embroidery, bobbin, binding, and applique. 50 original colors and 5 NEW colors of 60 wt. lint-free polyester.

Superior's Masterpiece is a very fine cotton thread and I like it lots better for piecing because the cotton fibers seem to hold together better.

Superior's description:
MasterPiece by Alex Anderson. Nature's finest thread. #50/2 extra-long staple Egyptian-grown cotton for piecing, detail quilting, bobbin, lace, and applique. Very smooth with virtually no lint.

Although the thickness of the 60 weight of the Bottom Line is a little finer than the 50 weight of the Masterpiece, MP is my thread of choice for piecing.

[Margo C.]

Cheryl, do you have trouble with the beginnings and endings of your seams coming unstitched when you use Bottom Line, or do you backstitch everything? I find that the slippery polyester comes undone too easily.

Hi Margo, Funny you should mention the unstitching. I didn't have any problems until I put the border on the quilt I am making now. The blocks are strip pieced, so I didn't have problem with it. I haven't tried the Master piece yet but will give it a try.

[Jill B.]

Ditto Margo....

[Terry K.]

Cindy, I too have been dissapointed with the titanium needles from Superior. I have now tried the 80/90/100 sizes and especially the 90 size sounds like it is a dull needle even though it is brand new out of the package. The stitch didn't look that great either and I had my machine serviced about six months ago. (She gets a spa vacation every year.) I even bought a new package of Superior needles thinking I could have a bad package, but I had the same result. I did use the 100 and I did manage to make it work although every so often, several stitches would catch and I would have to restart the stitching. I was using Superior Brites thread for the first time. Maybe Superior will make Titanium sharp needles at some point.

Otherwise, I tend to change out my needles after every four bobbins of work and this seems to work well for me. I hardly every break needles.