On your sewing machine that is? Do you measure needle life in garments? For example, this needle worked away on two dresses, a shirt, etc, etc, it must need a change? Or do you think it's been six months, time for a new needle? Or do you wait till something goes haywire on the machine and troubleshoot? Obviously if the needle gets bent, you change it. This is the kind of question I feel I can ask in this space. So sewing nerdy - but of so little interest to non-sewers.
I am just wondering. I bought new needles a few months ago. I bought stretch needles and standard needles. But how long do I expect them to last?
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| A small attempt at organising my sewing tools |
And, while I am posting on this sewing nerd-ish topic, do you favour any one brand of needles for sewing machines?
Finally what do you do when you throw away your old needles? I tend to wrap the point in tape.
But could I be recycling them?
Good question. I never thought about recycling them. I read somewhere (or maybe my mom told me??) to change needles with every project. I think I change them after two projects. Unless of course I break it or I sense a problem earlier.
ReplyDeleteI think I read a post by Sewing Cake about that topic a while ago. She even posted blown-up pictures of how scratched and dull a needle looks after a couple of projects... I think I read somewhere to change a needle after about 8h of straight sewing. I tend to change them every few projects, and use a new one if a project is "important" for me or uses especially nice fabric...
ReplyDeleteI was always told you should change the needle after every project, as a rule of thumb. Not that I listen, I can't remember the last time I changed mine ... which generally means it's about time by my rule of thumb ;)
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