Needle questions....

[Dixie H.]

I just finished piecing a very large quilt top (for a full sized bed; finished at 88" x 78" before the outer border, so + 4" on each direction, so I guess it is 92" x 82") that had a lot of piecing to it, so I know I need to clean my machine before I start quilting, but another question is, I switched my needle for a denim needle so I can do some place mats out of denim before I start actually quilting the quilt top; when I finish the place mats, should I put back the needle I took out? Or go ahead and switch to a new needle??

I have had the machine since August, and have done this top, quilted a baby quilt, pieced & quilted a Christmas Tree skirt, and done a few small things on it. The needle seems to still be fine, but is this a good time to go ahead and switch? Or put this one back, quilt with it, then switch to a new needle after that?

What is the general guideline on things like this???

I do have quilting specific needles, too; should I put one of those in for doing the quilting, and *then* put back the old needle??? How long is a needle usually good for? (eek, terrible grammar; sorry!)

Thanks for your tips!

[Anne B.]

You should put in a new needle every 6 to 8 hours of sewing time. Sounds like you're long overdue! Needles are only about a buck apiece, so don't try to economize on them. A new needle at least for every project will make you and your machine a lot happier.

[Anne B.]

You should put in a new needle every 6 to 8 hours of sewing time. Sounds like you're long overdue! Needles are only about a buck apiece, so don't try to economize on them. A new needle at least for every project will make you and your machine a lot happier.

Every 6 to 8 *hours*????? Really??? yikes.

Needles aren't as cheap here (Brazil) as in the US, so I'd like what I have here to last until my next trip home, though I could order there and have them sent over if I need to.

[Nancy R.]

It also depends on your needles. If you have titanium needles, they last a lot longer. I had been following the 6-8 hour guidelines for a while, but didn't see any difference from using the old needles and the new ones, so I now keep using my needles until I start having problems with them. I've also started using the titanium needles a lot, but still use the regular needles, too. Just be aware that if you start having issues with your tension or with your stitch quality, one of the first things you should try is a new needle. And also note that, from what I've read, about 10% of new needles have problems so if you change a needle and still have problems, it's not unheard of to need to change your needle again (although I haven't had any problems with new needles yet). This is another one of those quilting topics where you'll get widely varying opinions and you should end up doing whatever works for you.

Nancy

[Constance G.]

My vote is to start your large quilting project with a new needle. Use one of your quilting needles. If you need to be conservative with your resources, then save your old needle to use with other (smaller) projects. Make sure you have stored your used needle in such a way that you remember it's not a new one! Good luck with your quilt!

[Constance G.]

I definitely do NOT change out my needles every 6-8 hours of sewing time and rarely have any problems. I would change for moving onto the quilting, but other wise the only times I change my needles are a) I need a different size or type (ballpoint for knitwear) or b) if it starts snagging or causing other stitch related problems or c) I got things completely wrong and broke it. When checking a pre-used needle I will look to see if I can see any burrs and also I stroke it across the back of my hand at an angle, from several different sides, if you get a slight scratch in the skin then there is a burr on the point which is not necessarily visible, and it is time for a new needle.

[Constance G.]

I definitely do NOT change out my needles every 6-8 hours of sewing time and rarely have any problems. I would change for moving onto the quilting, but other wise the only times I change my needles are a) I need a different size or type (ballpoint for knitwear) or b) if it starts snagging or causing other stitch related problems or c) I got things completely wrong and broke it. When checking a pre-used needle I will look to see if I can see any burrs and also I stroke it across the back of my hand at an angle, from several different sides, if you get a slight scratch in the skin then there is a burr on the point which is not necessarily visible, and it is time for a new needle.

this is a great guideline/set of tips, thank you!

[Constance G.]

Okay, so after I finish these denim place mats, I will store that needle back in the case.....how do you store it so you know it's a used needle? would a dab with a marker up in the shank area be okay? And then that one I can use again if needed.

Then I will put in the quilting needle before I start quilting the big project, and from there check the old needle the way Rosemary described and if it's good, great, and if not, put a new normal needle in instead. I have another bed quilt coming up after this one, and I do have I think 2 or 3 packs, maybe 4 packs, of regular needles, so i can be a little less thrifty with those.

[Nancy R.]

I keep my used needles in a pin cushion. I change needles sizes/types a lot depending on what I'm sewing and what thread I'm using. I write the size/type on a little piece of painter's tape and stick that to my machine for the current needle in the machine. Then, when I take that needle out, I wrap the tape around the top of the needle and stick it in my pin cushion. Works well for me.

Nancy

[Nancy R.]

I keep my used needles in a pin cushion. I change needles sizes/types a lot depending on what I'm sewing and what thread I'm using. I write the size/type on a little piece of painter's tape and stick that to my machine for the current needle in the machine. Then, when I take that needle out, I wrap the tape around the top of the needle and stick it in my pin cushion. Works well for me.

Nancy

Oh! I like this idea; thanks!

I keep painters tape around for marking lines for straight line quilting, so that's easy enough

[Margo C.]

I keep my used needles in an old tomato pin cushion. The segments are labeled with the size of the needles.



I also keep a piece of painter's tape on the top of my machine clearly marked with the size of the needle that is in the machine.
My eyes are too bad to read the tiny numbers on the shaft of the needles!

[E.M. T.]

I do the same !!

[E.M. T.]

I guess I am just bad, I don't change my needle that often. I am like Rosemary--I change it with a new quilt or when it needs it. Keep in mind that I have been sewing for many, many years and I know the difference in the sound of my machine when a needle definitely needs to be changed. I also use denim needles for quilting--it is a nice sturdy needle and gets the job done when using a heavier thread.

[E.M. T.]

In order to tell if a needle is used or new, I place the used (but still usable) needles upside down back in the package. Easy peasy! Any needle with the point up in the package has been used before but not ready for the trash.

And for trash - I take an old medicine bottle with a child proof cap and label it USED SHARPS. I put all needles, pins, hand needles, etc in there until it is full then trash it.

[Anne B.]

So do I. But instead of throwing it in the garbage, I take it to the drugstore when it's full, along with the syringes I use to give my cat her insulin.

I wonder if you can send needles (not the syringes, just the machine needles) for recycling?