People who like embroidering things for their loved ones or just as a hobby will relate with the huge doubt of not knowing when to use a new embroidery needle.
That’s why to change embroidery needle often becomes more of a hassle than it seems. There’s no apparent reason to do so, and there’s no way to know when it proper time until it is too late – well, not really.
If you’re having this problem right now, then it’s likely you’re already frustrated and probably even made about it. But don’t worry – we will help you with that.
After decades of embroidering things and using all kinds of needles – we found the perfect way to find out when to change an embroidery needle.
But we’re also going over several other factors that you need to know – such as the reason to change the needle as well as common problems you may encounter.
So, are you ready to learn about this with our help? Then head down and read more!
Contents
Why You Need To Change Your Embroidery Needle?
Even the highest-quality needles wear down over time. This happens because of the constant friction between the needle and the fabric that causes the material to wear off. Of course, this happens on a microscopic level, but it still happens. And over time, it can escalate to the point of being visible.
In fact, all hand embroidery needles tend to wear down a few micrometers per use. Over several years of use, this could reduce the effectiveness of the needle and make it less effective.
And if we’re talking about a low-quality needle, then you can get it worn out in a single-use. And it won’t be as useful later.
This causes several things; some of them can be the needle head feeling dull and not penetrating the fabric. It could also cause shedding of the material, and sometimes even sticking to it when using.
Whether you’re using a high-end model that should last decades, or a low-quality one that lasts a few uses – it will still wear down and need replacement over time.
What if You Don’t Change Your Embroidery Needle Regularly?
So, do you have a threading embroidery needle that seems to be dull or worn out? Well, here are a few problems you may experience that may let you know for sure if it is:
- Shredded threads
- Broken stitches
- Skipped holes
- Wrinkled fabrics
- Inconsistent threading
- Difficulty passing the needle through holes
- Weird sounds when the needle passes through the fabric
If you experience any of these symptoms when embroidering something with an old or heavily-used needle, then it is time to change it.
Still, these are some of the problems you may encounter when it is too late. To prevent that, you could follow the next section.
When to Change the Embroidery Needle Then?
If needles are like paintbrushes for embroidering, then you need to make sure that they’re always working correctly. Otherwise, the result will look fuzzy, inconsistent, or just awful.
To prevent that, you can change your needles following the next factors:
After Large Projects
Especially if you’re using machine embroidery needles, you should replace them at least after every large project.
This happens because the needles are in constant friction with the fabric, which wears it down and causes it to dull out.
When this happens, the needle will start to miss threads and holes, which could damage entire processes.
That’s why you should change them after a few small projects, or a large one.
After Certain Hours of Use
If you get a high-end needle, then the manufacturer will probably let you know how many hours of use you can get out of it.
In most cases, a needle can handle about 10 hours of use. That’s enough for a large project or several small ones. Usually, however, you can duplicate this is you use the needle by hand, as this limit is generally measured with machine use.
You can track the number of hours by how much time you spend embroidering. If you have a modern embroidering machine, then you may have the chance to track the time with its built-in timer.
When an Issue Occurs
Lastly, you should just change when the needle starts failing. This could be any of the previous consequences we explained – such as broken stitches, shredded threads, inconsistent threading, skipped holes, and so on.
It doesn’t matter what embroidery needle sizes, once you experience any of these problems, then it is time to change it.
We recommend paying great attention to how it feels when using. Otherwise, you may end up damaging entire embroidering projects by mistake.
Change your Embroidery Needle Now!
So, do you feel like you should change embroidery needle now? Then don’t hesitate and do so.
It is way better to spend a few bucks in a new quality needle when it’s necessary than ending up with a broken thread in your several-hours-long project that could take you back several more hours.
That’s why we always change them as often as we can. Even if it means spending a few more bucks than expect. We never regret it.
