Change out that sewing machine needle!

Should you be changing your sewing machine needle and how often?

So the quick and easy answer is - YES, your sewing machine needled needs to be changed, fairly frequently.

A blunt or frayed or damaged sewing machine needle can cause problems to your quilt. It can punch holes in the fabric (that can lead to bigger holes or even tears). It can snag or catch in the fabric, throwing off the timing on the machine. It can cause your thread to snap and break. (Although there can be other reasons for this happening as well, such as an inappropriate needle size for the thread you are using or old thread.) Fabric will also pucker, and uneven or slipped stitches can happen.

Image courtesy of https://www.byannie.com/machines-and-more

Sewing machine needled under electron microscope to show blunt tip after use

Change the needle between every 4 to 8 hours of use, depending on how intensive the sewing is or the types of fabrics you are working with. The more intensive the sewing, the thicker the fabrics or layers, the more going over already quilted areas (such as in thread painting), the more frequently your needle should be changed.

If you are starting a new project - especially the quilting or thread painting portion of it - the fresher the needle, the more clean and precise your project will look, and the smoother it will go for you.