You are not logged in. Login or create an account
|
Needles
Posted: April 29, 2007, 3:13 PM
|
| What do most of you use as far as needle size. I am jusing an 18 and wonder what the difference between a 18 and 16 is |
|
Needles
Posted: June 23, 2007, 2:18 PM
|
| The larger the needle the thicker the thread used.I like to use 16 when sewing with a 50 wt. |
|
Needles
Posted: July 29, 2007, 3:51 PM
|
| Remember to change your needle often. |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 1, 2007, 7:49 AM
|
| OK--call me cheap, but I have a really hard time changing the needle when it still works. I don't change needles often on my regular machines, either. EVERYONE says change the needle often and I'm sure they are telling the truth, but I guess I need real life horror stories to convince me to do it. Anyone have one? |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 1, 2007, 6:35 PM
|
| Jean, I happen to agree with you. I don't change my needle as often as they suggest and have not experienced a problem. My motto is "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" so I use each needle for quite a while. |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 1, 2007, 8:25 PM
|
| Donna, Whew! I'm glad I'm not the only one. I know it's time to change when it goes, "thump, thump, thump" or pulls threads in the fabric! I don't usually wait THAT long. |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 2, 2007, 9:10 AM
|
|
Hi Jean, We're on the same track here. After using the machine for a while, you kind of know that it is time to change the needle - not after every quilt like they suggest. As long as this is working for us, we're good. Happy quilting. |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 3, 2007, 5:30 PM
|
|
Jean and Donna, I agree with you all and am happy you feel the same. I have always felt a little guilty (and cheap) when I start a new quilt without changing the needle. I do change it if I have been working on difficult fabric like minky or fleece. Lynette from Idaho |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 5, 2007, 11:35 AM
|
| Hi everyone -- Just wondered if you had to pick -- the number of quilts, amount of sewing time, how often would you guess you change your needles...also,, this may be a no-brainer, but I just quilted two fun quilts which I had used wonder-under (wu)...the needle went through the three layers plus wu just fine but I decided to change the needle because I couldn't imagine it hadn't dulled...anyone with wu experience? |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 6, 2007, 8:32 AM
|
| A friend of mine gave me a quilt to do that she used Seam-to-Seam on. That was not good. My thread kept breaking when I went into areas that had many pieces stacked up. Needless to say, I changed the needle after that wall hanging. I've cleaned the needle with alcohol after quilting something small using wonder-under and other applique materials and haven't had a problem. Sometimes you can hear the needle go into the fabric and you know that it is probably time to change it. If the fabric is a really thick polished fabric, even a new needle will make popping noises so I guess you have to just plan on changing a needle after maybe 4 large quilts (or the equivalent of). I have to admit, I do get a lot of use out of my needles. |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 6, 2007, 9:50 PM
|
| I just changed my needle and I think I have done about ten quilts. None of them were bigger than a "generous" lap size, but the popping noises appeared and I changed it. I do notice a difference so I guess it was time. Isn't this machine the greatest toy ever??!!! |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 7, 2007, 8:18 AM
|
| I've had my machine for over a year and just had it serviced. It was working beautifully (100 quilts) and then I noticed that the hopping foot wasn't working properly so I had it serviced. It was away for 2 months and now after only 3 quilts, I'm having trouble. My thread keeps breaking so I'm working on the tension. Sure hope I get it fixed quickly because I'm upset. It worked like a dream when it first arrived a year ago. I used up all of my left over thread on practice pieces and don't remember it breaking. The thread I'm using now is thread that I've used in the past without any problem so hope its because of the humidity or our very hot weather. I'm grasping at straws right now. I didn't want to mess with the tension since it came home because the first time it came home, it was horrible and I had the repairman come and take it back. I ran it in the shop and it worked fine and continued to work fine for 3 quilts - - - but now.... Well I'm going to go and make an attempt at finishing my quilt. I will let everyone know how I do. |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 7, 2007, 10:39 AM
|
| Have you tried putting Sewer's Aid on your thread. It is silicone that will help lubricate the thread. A small bottle lasts a long time. This tip has really helped me. Also I have found that dark thread breaks easier than light colored thread and found out the dyes on dark thread are harder on the fiber than the lighter dyes so they break easier. |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 7, 2007, 9:39 PM
|
| ahhhhhh....the needle debate. Well I don't ordinarily change the needle only every 3 or so. I did a quilt yesterday and had a new needle. By half way through the one today. I was having eyelash trouble. I rethreaded, checked the bobbin for tension, checked the top and finally at wits end changed the needle. No more trouble.....I do know that batik is particularly hard on needles and I seem to try to press my luck. |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 8, 2007, 12:50 PM
|
| I did use Sewer's Aid and wondered if it hurt the thread. I've used it in the past without trouble but still questioned if this time it didn't work. I fininally finished that quilt and put one of mine on (had a lot of batiks in it so I will change the needle for the next one) and used the same brand of thread but the tension was strange. Sometimes it stitched well, then acted up and then okay again without me doing anything to the tension. I called the man that serviced my machine and made an appointment to see him on Friday. I told him that I would be bringing my latest quilt and one that I did before it was serviced. I want my old girl back the way she was when she arrived. She never questioned anything I did, just stitched away like a dream. Now she is acting like a crabby old man (but I still love her). Will keep you all posted. I hope that anything I learn will help you because I appreciate all the tips I've received from all of you. |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 8, 2007, 1:01 PM
|
| How often during a quilt do you check the stitching? And how do you see the stitching on the back of your quilt? |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 9, 2007, 9:10 AM
|
| I watch the stitching as I'm guilting. In the past, all the stitches looked even. Now a few look looser. If you feel the back, you can feel that the bobbin thread doesn't feel right and I often use a mirror to see the stitches on the back. I have a feeling that the timing is off and I want to know how the timing gets goofy. Before it was serviced, I never had a problem. As I said in earlier messages, I'm going in to see the service man with a quilt from before the machine was serviced and one I did yesterday. They both are the same pattern and pretty much the same fabrics. The only difference is the top thread. I will keep you all posted. |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 9, 2007, 10:48 AM
|
|
As for bobbin tension I had problems with mine when I changed thread. I went from the Superior John Flynn thread that came with the machine to King Tut. Messing with the bobbin screw is tedious. Have ordered a bobbin tension unit from Columbia River Quilting. This will make my life less stressful when changing thread that is a different thickness. I test my quilting stitches on the side (the overage of quilt batting and back) and then look underneath. Usually the machine sounds a certain way when everything is in sync. |
|
Needles
Posted: Aug. 10, 2007, 8:22 AM
|
|
Frog, The tension unit from Columbia River Quilting sounds interesting. Tell us more about it and how to order it. Thanks. |
|
Needles
Posted: July 10, 2008, 11:35 AM
|
|
I am quilting on my first large quilt. I am using the feather groovy boards for the border, a flower one for some of block centers, and also in the ditch quilting. When I rolled up the first part where I could see the back side I noticed that the needle holes appear to be bigger than I remembered them being on some other projects I had completed. The thread I am using is Superior So Fine! 50 wt. and the needle is a size 16. The fabric is just regular 100% cotton quilting fabric, I think it is Aunt Grace. Will the holes become smaller when the quilt comes of the rollers and once it is washed? Thanks for any help someone can give. Kathleen |
|
Needles
Posted: July 10, 2008, 12:57 PM
|
| there's some discussion about smaller needles if you look under the topic of sit down hq. i've started using 80/12's and like them much better than the 16's that i bought from hq. |
|
Needles
Posted: July 11, 2008, 9:26 AM
|
| Where have you found size 12 needles? I've gotten size 14's but haven't found size 12's. |
|
Needles
Posted: July 11, 2008, 11:35 AM
|
|
here's how i found out about the 12's: CommentAuthorQuiltGeek CommentTimeJun 10th 2008 I called Handi Quilter to ask about using different needles because they only sell the 16 and 18's. They said they only stand behind the needles that they sell but that it would not harm my machine to use other needles if they are of the correct type. I did a search for the 135x5 needles and found that Organ makes that size in a titanium clad needle. I bought them form Allbrands and have not had any trouble with them. |
|
Needles
Posted: July 14, 2008, 8:15 AM
|
|
QuilGgeek Did you get regular or ballpoint size 12 needles? |
|
Needles
Posted: July 14, 2008, 10:14 AM
|
|
GrandmaPeg I got the regular point. |
|
Needles
Posted: July 14, 2008, 7:37 PM
|
| Thanks! I'll let you know how it works out for me. |
|
Needles
Posted: July 18, 2008, 6:33 PM
|
| Wow, so much discussion about needles and none about cleaning your bobbin carriage housing or bobbin holder!! I use to do custom embrodiery and we didn't worry so much about the needles as we did about keeping this area of the machines clean as it cut down on so many problems. When I got my HQ - bought it used - the lady I got it from told me the same thing! She'd had it about 3 years and faithfully used an air compressor to blow out the bobbin carriage housing after each project and had never had to have it serviced. I've had the HQ 9 months, and have taught myself how to use it and did my 1st quilt on it just 3 days ago but I blew out this area several time during the quilting process and boy did the dust fly!!My HQ sews great and I have to believe it is because of this little maintance tip. I was lucky that my husband had an extra air compressor but you can buy the 'canned air' to do this with too. Hope this helps with some of your 'needle' problems....Happy Stitching...Bev |
|
Needles
Posted: July 19, 2008, 4:25 PM
|
| I like the idea of the air compressor but not everyone has one available. They don't cost too much, but I equate everything to how much fabric I could buy for the same money. So much fabric, so little time. I use my vacuum with the little attachment to clean computer key boards. I had one of those and it works. I vacuum every time I change the bobbin and I also drop a bit of oil in the bobbin assembly then too. I even clean around the hopping foot because some threads and fabrics have more lint. My husband knows when I've been quilting by the threads hanging off various pieces of my clothing. Maybe I should start vacuuming me? The sticky lint tape doesn't always work. But who runs it on their posterior? My hair is another problem spot........ |
|
Needles
Posted: July 20, 2008, 12:20 PM
|
| I also learned a tip while visiting a quilting shop in Wilmington, NC while on vacation. Makeup brushes with the long handles work great for cleaning out the bobbin area and around the hopper foot if you don't have the special vacuum attachments. I usually get several a year in the free gifts offered when I purchase my makeup. The long handles are nice too, lets you get in the back of the bobbin area. |
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
See our clips on YouTube