When to Change Your Sewing Machine Needle

If you’ve been sewing for any amount of time, chances are you’ve wondered if something was wrong with your sewing machine and thought that it was getting sick.  But later you find out that it’s not your machine, it’s not your sewing thread; it’s time to change your sewing machine needle.

The first step to tell if your sewing machine is getting sick is to diagnose the symptoms showing up on your fabric.  Below are some common warning signs that your sewing machine needle is bruised and has a problem:

1. skipping stitches

2. upper thread breaks

3. snags the fabric

4. machine runs noisily

5. needle can’t penetrate the fabric

6. cutting fabric like cutting paper

7. puckering seams

8. large needle holes in the fabric

9. hear a popping or thumping sound

10. runs in fabric that resemble runs in nylon stockings

11. needle falls out

If any of these signs are present, then it’s an indication that your sewing machine needle may need changing.  Think about how often the needle goes up and down to pull the bobbin thread and form a stitch through several layers of fabric in a fraction of a second.  Each time the needle makes entry, it becomes dull and blunt which causes the needle to not be as sharp as it should be going through the fabric layers.  The point of the needle effects how the needle will enter the fabric; so yes,  a simple needle change could solve your problem.

Stop the worry, stop the stress.  Change your sewing machine needle!

– The needle you select depends on the fabric you use.

– The same needle can not be used for woven fabric and a knit or t-shirt type fabric.

– Generally, the finer the fabric you are working with, the finer the needle should be.

– And, the heavier the fabric, the heavier the needle.

Cure your machine’s illnesses, start each project with a new needle and get those beautiful seams again!  This information is how you can tell if your sewing machine is getting sick.

Check out more information all about needles here.

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