As a follow up to my earlier blog, Needles, here is a short addition to knowing your needles. If you are wondering how to tell if it is time to replace your needle, there are a few things that can help you with this.
First, if your needle begins to make a different sound while sewing, this is a good indication that something is not quite right. If you are a frequent sewer, or have used your machine for a long time, you know what a normal needle/stitch sounds like. When this changes, its time to make a change!
Second, if your needle seems to be “avoiding” the straight path down through the fabrics, this can also be a sign that it is losing its sharpness. It will seem to veer off to one side or the other, looking for an easier way down.
Third, if your needle seems to skip (you can hear this while you are stitching). This can mean either you have a dull needle or the wrong one. So if you have been sewing for a while on the same fabric without any odd noises, and it begins to skip, then try a new needle and see if that helps.
Hopefully this will help you with determining whether or not its time to make a change.
Happy Stitching!
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