For some time now I have been getting increasingly more annoyed with myself over not remembering how many stitches I have embroidered with my needles.
Every time I stitch out a design I tell myself I'll remember it the next time and I'll remember when I last changed needles, but it just never happens!So.......
I spent a couple of hours fiddling with an old Needle Mate design I digitised some time ago and came up with the one below.
I thought a space for every 2,500 sts would be sufficient but looking at it now, perhaps the numbers should be on the right side???
It would require removing your needle after you finish each design and placing it in the proper section, then next time you want to stitch a design you could tell at a glance whether the previous needle would cope with the stitch count, or should you use a new one.
What do you think Cuties?
All suggestions welcome....
Hugs n roses to all, Meganne
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Good idea! I've always put my needles back in their package and wrote over them "used" with a Sharpie but that doesn't really help me with how used they are.
1 comment
by meganne
28 Nov 2016
I was doing the exact same thing but I am pleased to say that this is working brilliantly.
I'll probably share the design with Cuties in the new year but am too busy just now to take on the extra work of sending out emails right before Christmas. :-)
463410Do you make one of these for each needle size? Or do you have a way of knowing the needled size.
3 comments
by meganne
26 Nov 2016
Needles have their sizes engraved on them, but to make it easier I have placed the 90/14's flat side down and the 75/11's flat side up. It is working out really well. 😊
by pennyhal2
26 Nov 2016
I couldn't see any numbers on mine. So I got out my super duper magnifying glass and took a look...and there they were! Thanks for letting me know that they have them. However, not all the needles I use have the numbers on them.
by meganne
27 Nov 2016
That's unusual Penny, I don't remember ever seeing needles without a Brand and/or size engraved on them. Do you know/remember which Brand the needles are that are unmarked? Just so I never buy any, it would drive me nuts. LOL! :-)))
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255050Here is the finished stitch mate. I made this one with variegated blue thread.
Sorry the photo rotated, must be because I uploaded it directly from my phone???? If you click on the photo it will open the right way up in another page.
1 comment
by Sewmum1
25 Nov 2016
It's looks great. Now you can keep track of all those needles. Love the variegated thread
122864What a great idea Meganne, well done. Like you say one never knows how many stitches the needle has done. I just keep going until I think my needle is blunt. Hugs Maureen
1 comment
by meganne
25 Nov 2016
Me too Maureen but then I will get a thread nest, in the middle of a design, sometimes with disastrous results. Now I'll be able to choose the used needle best suited to the next design I'm going to stitch out..
11566Brilliant! Wish I was one tenth as smart as you. Hugs/Lillian
1 comment
by meganne
25 Nov 2016
Oh Lillian, If I was THAT smart I would have made one eight years ago. LOL!!!! xxxx
14579145918This is brilliant. I think I one for each machine would work well. then the needle only needs to be removed and placed on the chart if it has enough left to do a small project rather than a large one.
1 comment
by meganne
25 Nov 2016
Actually I'm going to use just one for all four machines as I always take my needles out when I'm finished to remind me they can be used again.
Now I won't have to try and remember how many stitches each one has done and hopefully I can be more economical with my needle usage
13243Great idea! And since I have just a single needle machine, I like the straight pin idea too!
35675Fantastic idea!!! I have an idea that would make it un-necessary to remove the needle - just insert a straight pin on the line of the amount of stitches stitched and place the "needle mate" under your presser foot when finished stitching, then when you start your next project you don't have to put the needle back in the machine, and you will know how many stitches you left off at.
1 comment
by meganne
25 Nov 2016
That's a Great idea for anyone who only has one machine, it would definitely work that way.
Thanks GCP. Love your ID name. :-)))
215Wow. Great idea. I have to ask like Pennifold did, how many stitches can a needle do?
1 comment
by meganne
24 Nov 2016
For embroidery, up to 100,000, depending on the quality of the needle.
Having said that, I'm still using my original needles in my overlocker/serger from when I purchased it in 1989, but embroidery is way tougher on needles.
My Elna Xquisite machines will start missing stitches, or create nests underneath, when it is time to replace a needle, my other machines aren't as easy to read, so I am probably changing/wasting needles needlessly.
I find I can do many more smaller designs per one needle, than I can do larger designs with much higher stitch counts and dense designs use even more needles.
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9536For goodness sake woman - go to bed early for a change! You've been up late again!
Anyway this is a great idea as I have no clue whatsoever how many stitches should I be doing on a project! I often just throw them away and I maybe could have gotten more life out of them. Can you tell me how many stitches a needle can do?
Love Chris (PS - see you in a couple of weeks!)
1 comment
by meganne
24 Nov 2016
Ooops, I should have scrolled down and answered you first BFF. ;-) sorry.
Yes, another early morning as I was determined to finish this, it has been bugging me for some time, especially since I have been doing some embroidery jobs this week and hate wasting needles, needlessly 😂😂😂
Will call you. xxxx
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