needle

[Claudiaj]

If I hear my needle making little pricks every once in awhile in the material, is this a sign that it needs to be changed?

[shirleyknot]

Re: needle

Usually means its getting dull, or has a tiny rough spot.

[JCY]

Re: needle

How frequently do you usually change your needles? With normal use, they should be changed at the start of every new project, or when you hear sounds like you're hearing now. Are you piecing or FMQ? What type of fabric are you sewing on? A fabric with metallic in it will dull a needle much quicker. Is your needle too large? For regular piecing, a 75 or 80 size is adequate. For FMQ, one needs a 90.

[Hulamoon]

Re: needle

I was so uniformed about needles even though I sewed since I was a kid. It's so important.

Schmetz Needles ? SCHMETZ Sewing Machine Needle Primer

[Claudiaj]

Re: needle

How frequently do you usually change your needles? With normal use, they should be changed at the start of every new project, or when you hear sounds like you're hearing now. Are you piecing or FMQ? What type of fabric are you sewing on? A fabric with metallic in it will dull a needle much quicker. Is your needle too large? For regular piecing, a 75 or 80 size is adequate. For FMQ, one needs a 90.

I change it with every new project. I am piecing on 100% cotton material I got from MSQ and my needle size is 80/12 so perhaps I just need to change it. I'll try that-maybe I forgot to change it the last time who know's. LOL

[JCY]

Re: needle

I used to use Schmetz needles, but my LQS carries Inspira, which is what I use on my DSM. For most of my piecing, I use a 75 quilting needle. The eye is little bigger than a reg. needle. It makes a smaller hole in the fabric. When I was sewing on batiks, I think I used a Microtex 80.

[Julie A]

Re: needle

Yes and No. Don't you love the 'it depends' approach? Seriously, though, if I heavily starch my fabric before sewing or if zi am working on certain batiks, I definitely hear that little popping. Also if I grabbed a ballpoint needle instead of a sharp or universal, I will get that sound. The combination of universal needle and tightly woven or starched fabric is my most common cause - if that's the situation, I keep sewing. But I am religious about changing the needle every 8-12 hours of sewing. An expert mechanic told me couple years ago that changing needle every 8-12 sewing hours would greatly reduce wear and tear on the machine (along with cleaning it t same time). Hope that helps.