When do you change your sewing needle?

Thanks for this thread. I just started sewing again after YEARS of not doing so and I was wondering about this very subject! Off to buy some needles!! I heard from one guy that cleaned my machine that singer needles are not good...anybody else heard this or have a preferred brand?

I always use Singer needles and haven't had any bad experiences with them, but that could just be because I have nothing to compare it too...now I'm curious to read the other answers.  Also, I usually change my needle whenever I change my bobbin - either for a new project or because I ran out of thread.  It's the easiest way for me to remember to change the needle.  For a long time I thought my sewing machine was just temperamental and then I realized that it's almost always just in need of a new needle when it starts acting crazy!  Hope this helps

What a great help this thread is.  I will now change my needle more frequently.

I definitely don't change my needle as often as I should.  I've heard people say you should do it every project, but I guess that just seems excessive to me.  As the majority of you seem to agree that you should, perhaps I should cave...

Wow - good to know!  I have not changed my needle in awhile and this may be the source of the snags I am having!  Thanks.

Scary...mine was changed last week for the first time!

Thanks to all the experiences sew-ists who shared their advice.  As a newbie sewer, I had no idea how big a difference a new needle could make!

Wow..I should change my needle. I'm glad I found this advice on her. I do small simple projects but I can't remember the last time I changed my needle.

I need to change my needle too and get my sewing machine serviced probably. Maybe changing the needle will make all the difference.

Wow I gues I don't change my needle enough. I just change it if it breaks or it seems to be acting weird. I am new to all this and trying to learn everyday. Thanks for the question and the advice

I have had my new Bernina since November and have never changed the needle and I sew A LOT....today is the day!

I go with the every 8 hours of sewing rule of thumb unless I notice poor stitches or the telltale popping sound as the needle goes through the fabric.  Also, synthetic fabrics are harder on needles than natural fibers so I bear that in mind too.  The feel of a new needle is so satisfying!

I do a lot of little projects, so I don't always change my needle after every project. I do change it though if I'm using a different type of fabric. I can usually tell when it's getting dull by the sound it makes going into the fabric and the smoothness of it. It sounds more like it's punching through the fabric than piercing.

This is a great thread as I have just started sewing again after an 8 year absence. I was just thinking that I should change my needle after every project. I'm sure having a sharp needle would ease any frustration that I would have with a dull needle.

Barbara

I can't tell you when the last time was that I changed my sewing machine needle.  I never realized it should be changed after a couple of small projects...

Thank you for this valuable info.