A good rule of thumb is to change the needle when you start a new project...Of course, I'm bad about working on several projects at a time.
For those who use there machines for long periods of time, you may find you need to change the needle every day or after every 8-10 hours of sewing...more
often if you happen to hit a pin while sewing.
I know...I know...I'm not supposed to sew over the pins!
I notice that my machine will start making a little popping sound when the needle starts getting dull. When I start noticing that sound, I try to take a break in my sewing and make time to change the needle.
If I have to change the needle because it has gotten dull and not because I bent the needle, I also take the time to clean the lint out of the machine then too.
The machine just seems to run so much smoother then.
So what do you do with those old used needles?
I have an old medicine bottle that I save all of my old needles in. I'd hate for someone to get stuck with one if I just threw it in the trash.
A Use for Dull Needles
I have been teaching my little granddaughters the basics of using a sewing machine.
I put one of the dull needles in my machine, then using some of there old school papers, I let them practice sewing on the lines (without thread).
I'm dulling my good needles by sewing through the paper, and they are learning to control the speed of the machine and learning to sew 1/4 inch seams using the lines of the paper.
The girls are having a blast learning to use the sewing machine!
It's a good thing I have a back-up!
What other uses have you found for your old needles?
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