A friend and I---both of us----have a question for Cuties---when should you change your embroidery needle---when do you know it needs to be changed?

Years ago I saw Sadia Sews blog post (linked) where she mentions she only changes the needle when it breaks. She does beautiful work, so I figured she knows what she's doing. I generally don't wait for breakage, but change it if anything isn't quite right. Her notation made me less fussy than I'd been, but still not as relaxed as she is :-) Also, my machine (single needle) sits on a quilted place mat - I stick the needle in it when changing (do the 90 for towels, ballpoints, 75 sharp for most things), swap them back and forth and every now and again just toss the bunch and start fresh. Certain items (gifts, really nice fabrics) I'll splurge and start with a fresh needle to be extra safe. I keep a good magnifying glass with the sewing tools so I can read the size/type on the needle.

Ooh, boy. I change mine for sure when they break! Sometimes if I think mine is getting dull, I put it in and out of the strawberry (sand) on my pincushion several times to bump off any roughness, then reuse. I'm sure there's Scots somewhere in my family, oh yes, McSween.

I have been told to change needles very 8 hours but I often forget how many hours they have been in use. In practice I just listen out for the needle making a knocking or popping noise as it is used or look for skipped stitches.
I used the same needle to make about 30+ fsl snowflakes at Christmas and then I had several needles brand new from the packet that all left pulled threads on fabric as soon as I started using them.

I use ceramic needles and change them so seldom, that I have no idea how long I use them......you all know I am testing all the time, and I only change when the thread shreds or the bobbin starts to click (this is on my 16 needle machine)....I am having much better luck with the ceramic needle than I had with the titanium.........

1 comment

by noah 11 Jan 2016

never heard of them vicki i will go google it lol thanks

I used to change the needle after 5 hours of sewing, but now reading these comments i am going to change my way of thinking . Looks as though i will get a little more usage from my needles. Some great suggestions below. Sandra.

This reminds me of an old question "How long is a piece of string?"
I always go on what the machine sounds like and are there any problems with the embroidery stitches not being even. If I am sewing something for someone else I immediately put in a new needle.
You have some very good answers here.

I do mine about 6/7 hours of embroidery , otherwise I get a lecture from my son who is a Bernina Technician , he also says don't trust every needle that comes out a new packet is perfect they sometime make duds always listen to the sound of your machine if there is a popping sound the needle should go in the bin .

2 comments

by PeggyJ 09 Jan 2016

Interesting you mention the popping sound. Have heard it and now know what that is. Always learning. Thanks.

by cathy66 10 Jan 2016

I have learned to listen to his advise , and do what he says after all Bernina fly him around the world to Switzerland 3 or more times a year just to get his advise he does know what he is talking about , I am so lucky to have him as my son , Mum has the passion to sew he has the passion for sewing machines good combination.

i go by the sound of the machine and if i see any loops then it is time to change it.Yes i know it sounds to good to be true but try it before you say i am crazy ok .change like days and hours with one needle !!!
My singer machine fixer told me lots of things the industry do to get u to spend money***
Happy sewing and sewing leather and a few other things wreck your needle to right???hugs

I change the needle for each project and more often if I am doing lace or hundreds of in the hoop items. I usually can reuse them on my regular sewing machine -- but usually I just discard the used/worn needles. I do not need/want to have the frustrations of broken threads or worse. A bad/bent needle can damage the machine. It is not worth it to me to get another days work out of a needle if I have to take the machine to the shop for repairs.

I change the needle if the thread is breaking or shredding but don't throw it away until I am sure that was the problem.

When I worked in a sewing store we used to tell customers to change their needles after 4 hours of sewing.

If a popping sound develops, you notice damaged fabric or skipped stitches, thread is being shredded or otherwise damaged, and puckered fabric can all be a sign that it's time to change your needle.

I think I read somewhere that it should be changed after 80 000 stitches.
I do not pay to much attention to stitch count, but put in a new needle every time I start a FSL design. Other projects I change the needle if the thread brakes a second time for no obvious reason, like getting stuck. Not very scientific, but that works for me. I am looking forward to input from others.

Depends on the type of needle you buy. If you use titntium needles, they can last a really really long time. I don't go by the number of stitches to determine when my needle needs changing. When I notice the quality of the stitching is suffering, thread breaks, or thread shredding, I change needles. But I don't throw it out just yet because there could be other reasons that is happening. If the new needle has the same problems as the old one, I know it can be another problem and the needle is still good.