How Often Should You Change Your Sewing Machine Needle
Your sewing machine needle needs to be changed regularly. It is the most active part of the sewing machine. When it is not in proper condition, you will waste a lot of time on your project. You are also likely to damage the fabric and thread you are working with. Changing your sewing machine needle is highly beneficial.
Working on your sewing machine with a dull needle also leads to skipped stitches, uneven threads, and lots of noise on your sewing machine as you sew.
To keep your sewing machine working well, always use a sharp needle. It is a cheap method of sewing machine maintenance. Needles are easily available and affordable.
How Often Should You Change Your Sewing Machine Needle?
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You should change your sewing machine needle after you have used at least three bobbins of thread. You should also change your needle at the start of every new project. Get a needle that works properly with your thread and fabric. Also, change your needle whenever you have missed stitches and puckered fabrics as you sew. If your needle bends or breaks, change it immediately.
When Should You Need to Change Sewing Machine Needle?
At The Start Of Every New Project
The longer you use your sewing machine needle, the blunter it becomes. A blunt needle damages fabric, threads, and the sewing machine.
Anytime you have a new sewing project, change your sewing machine needle. If you use a blunt needle on new thread and fabric, you are inviting unwanted problems. As a beginner or experienced seamstress, you don’t want sewing problems as soon as you start a project.
When You Have Used Your Needle For A Long Time
Whether you sew regularly or not, you need to change your sewing machine needle after the passage of a considerable length of time.
If you use the same needle for long, you are likely to see and feel when it gets blunt. If you don’t sew regularly, you can touch the tip of the needle. This is an easy test for sharpness. If the needle is dull, change it. If it is still sharp, you can use it for minor or continuation of projects.
When You Have Stitching Problems
One of the most common sewing machine solutions for stitching problems is to change your sewing machine needle.
When you realize that your sewing machine puckers, jams, and skips stitches, this is a sign that you need to change your needle.
New needles pick both the bottom and top threads easily. This ensures that you don’t experience skipped stitches or puckering.
On Changing Fabrics
When sewing, you may work for a long time with one type of fabric. When you start a new project with a different type, make sure to change your needle.
Different sewing needles are suitable for different fabrics. You cannot use the same sewing machine needle to sew denim and a piece of satin fabric.
On Changing Threads
When sewing, you may need to use a different thread on different parts of your project. When you change your thread, you may also need to change your needle. Different threads only work well with certain types of needles. Make sure you have the right needle for every thread that you use.
When Your Sewing Machine Sounds Different
As you gain experience as a seamstress, you can easily tell when the sewing machine sounds abnormal. Different sewing machines have different sounds when they sew smoothly. When the sound changes, it is likely that your needle is blunt.
When the sewing needle is blunt, the sewing machine works harder to sew. This causes a change in the sewing sound. As soon as you change the needle, the sewing sound will get back to normal.
When Embroidering
Embroidering is not the same as sewing. In embroidery, your needle makes thousands of stitches per second. Causing it to wear and tear quickly. This means that you need a regular change of your embroidery needle.
When carrying out embroidery projects, change your needle after every 8 hours. You don’t want to use blunt needles in your embroidery projects. They are likely to destroy rather than embellish your garments.
When Your Needle Is Bent Or Broken
If your needle is bent or broken, you need to change it immediately. A bent or broken needle will cause stitching problems, damage the sewing machine and your fabric.
How To Change Your Sewing Machine Needle?
Step 1. Switch off your sewing machine. Unplug it from any power source. This ensures that you are safe as you change the sewing machine needle. Your sewing machine will not turn on accidentally when you do this. You also avoid the dangers of electric shock.
Step 2. Remove the needle. You will start by loosening the needle set. Hold the needle set steady with one hand. Using the other hand, unscrew it from the sewing machine. You can use your sewing machine user guide to get the screws holding your needle set. When the needle is loose enough, pull it out of the sewing machine gently.
Step 3.Choose the right needle. Before you insert your needle into your sewing machine, consider the project you are working on. What type of needle do you need? Make sure to get the right needle for your fabric and thread. This will give you a smooth sewing experience.
Step 4. Insert your new needle. When you have the right needle, push it upwards into the needle space gently until its end hits the end of the needle space. Then hold your needle in place with one hand. With the other hand, tighten the needle set screw. Then use a screwdriver to tighten the set and hold the needle in place.
Step 5. Before you start sewing on your project, test the needle. Get a similar fabric to the one you intend to work on. Place it on the sewing machine and make a few stitches on it. Confirm that you have chosen the right needle for the fabric you want to sew. You can now start or proceed with your sewing project.
How Often Should A Sewing Machine Be Serviced?
If you own a sewing machine, you want to keep it in good working condition for a long time. Sewing machines often have a 25-year warranty. This is a guide on how long your sewing machine should last.
To make sure it lives this long, you need to have it serviced regularly. Many sewing machine manufacturers recommend a professional service once a year. This ensures that the sewing machine functions as it did when it was new after years of use.
Professional sewing machine servicing involves a lot of work. As you use your sewing machine, there is a lot of wear and tear. As a mechanical tool, there are many moving parts. These parts need to be lubricated regularly to facilitate proper movement. You also need to use the right lubricant.
Sewing machine maintenance also involves a lot of cleaning. As you use your sewing machine, fabrics and threads break. These broken fabrics and threads mix with lubricants in the sewing machine. This causes lint to build in the sewing machine. This lint needs to be cleaned during maintenance. If it isn’t cleaned, it builds up to cause sewing problems later.
As a sewing machine owner, you can carry out regular mini servicing of your sewing machine. Together with an annual service, you can keep your sewing machine working properly for a lifetime.
Can You Sharpen A Sewing Machine Needle?
Yes, you can. If your sewing machine needle gets blunt, it can be sharpened easily. You can take it to a professional or, you could do it at home with the right tools and skills. Keeping your needles sharp helps to keep your sewing machine in good condition and makes your sewing easy.
One of the tools you need to sharpen a sewing needle is an emery board. An emery board is a rough surface on your nail clippers. Thus it is easily available and easy to use. Pass your needle over it a few times. After a short while, your needle will be sharp enough for effective sewing.
You can also use soap to sharpen your needles. Stick your needle in a bar of soap to smoothen the tip and any scratches. Do this a few times. You will have a smooth tip and needle that goes through the fabric easily.
You can also use steel wool to sharpen your needle. Just as it cleans other metals, steel wool sharpens your sewing machine needles. Rub your needle with it a few times. Touch the tip of the needle to test for sharpness. Stop when your needle is sharp enough to use.
You can also use cooking oil or coconut oil to sharpen your sewing machine needle. Dip the tip of your needle in the oil. Then, rub the needle on a foil paper a few times to sharpen it.
Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years.
I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills.
It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.
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