Why do my sewing machine needles keep bending?
October 28, 2023 5:23 PM Subscribe
I can't quilt more than a couple of inches without bending my sewing machine needle and having to replace it. I bought special quilting needles and the first one lasted an inch. What happened????
I've been quilting again. I did the quilting on my first project and turned out very nicely.. The back looks nice too. But then this next project has been a bitch.
Ok, so I started out and I was getting birds next at the back (see second picture). I tried everything with the thread tension and everything imaginable and could not fix it. Then I discovered it was because I wasn't setting down the foot lever and was free quilting with the foot up. OK so put the foot down and things went much better.
Then I switched to transparent nylon thread for another section of the quilting. That was a disaster as before and it was just constantly unthreading and I think the needle bending may have started then. So I gave up on the nylon thread and went back to cotton thread but now I can't stitch more than a couple of inches before I hear a clunk and my needle is bent.
I'm using the free motion quilting foot. I have the little plate under the hide the feeddogs. I'm quilting through cotton, a layer of batting and an old sheet as backing. I have gone through SO MANY needles. I just ordered special quilting needles because I thought they might work better, but I put in the first one and it sewed for a few seconds and then immediately bent. I am using the same size needle that came with the machine, is recommended for the machine, and served me just fine for my first project.
What is going on???
I've been quilting again. I did the quilting on my first project and turned out very nicely.. The back looks nice too. But then this next project has been a bitch.
Ok, so I started out and I was getting birds next at the back (see second picture). I tried everything with the thread tension and everything imaginable and could not fix it. Then I discovered it was because I wasn't setting down the foot lever and was free quilting with the foot up. OK so put the foot down and things went much better.
Then I switched to transparent nylon thread for another section of the quilting. That was a disaster as before and it was just constantly unthreading and I think the needle bending may have started then. So I gave up on the nylon thread and went back to cotton thread but now I can't stitch more than a couple of inches before I hear a clunk and my needle is bent.
I'm using the free motion quilting foot. I have the little plate under the hide the feeddogs. I'm quilting through cotton, a layer of batting and an old sheet as backing. I have gone through SO MANY needles. I just ordered special quilting needles because I thought they might work better, but I put in the first one and it sewed for a few seconds and then immediately bent. I am using the same size needle that came with the machine, is recommended for the machine, and served me just fine for my first project.
What is going on???
Are you pushing or pulling the fabric too firmly instead of very gently guiding the fabric and letting the machine do the work?
posted by mochapickle at 5:53 PM on October 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 5:53 PM on October 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
I'll second the suggestion about pushing and pulling too hard and trying to move the fabric too fast for the machine. Free motion quilting puts lateral tension on the needle, and even the weight of the fabric hanging away from the machine can be enough to bend the needle if you're allowing that hanging weight to apply tension to the needle during a stitch.
Are you rolling up the sides of the quilt that are outside the zone you're quilting so they aren't putting tension on the needle by hanging? Sometimes getting a pair of grippy gloves can help by using your hand and arm strength to support the fabric, too. But essentially I feel like if your arms aren't tired after quilting for a little bit you're relying too much on gravity (and making it more likely that you'll bend needles).
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 6:03 PM on October 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
Are you rolling up the sides of the quilt that are outside the zone you're quilting so they aren't putting tension on the needle by hanging? Sometimes getting a pair of grippy gloves can help by using your hand and arm strength to support the fabric, too. But essentially I feel like if your arms aren't tired after quilting for a little bit you're relying too much on gravity (and making it more likely that you'll bend needles).
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 6:03 PM on October 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
When you put in a new needle I'd check that it looks like it's straight and at the right angle.
Did you clean in and around the bobbin case? Try another bobbin? Also I'd double check for needle strikes.
posted by oneear at 6:22 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Did you clean in and around the bobbin case? Try another bobbin? Also I'd double check for needle strikes.
posted by oneear at 6:22 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
I might also help to have a photo of your machine showing the needle and sewing area.
posted by oneear at 6:27 PM on October 28, 2023
posted by oneear at 6:27 PM on October 28, 2023
You're getting some good advice here, so I just wanted to say your first project is adorable. Keep on sewing!
posted by XtineHutch at 6:39 PM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by XtineHutch at 6:39 PM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
Honestly, my concern would be that the episode with the nylon thread could have pulled something every so slightly out of alignment.
The first thing I would do is put the quilting project aside and see if your machine will successfully sew up a seam. I'd start with two thickness of medium weight fabric and a straight seam. If it does that without issue, I'd try doing curved seams and back stitching, and then I'd see if it could go through heavier weight fabric, and if it could go through lightweight fabric without making a mess or breaking or snarling the thread.
If it can do all that, the the problem is almost certainly what you are doing while trying to quilt and not a problem with the machine. If you have problems doing the simple stuff, it's time to take the machine in for service. If you have no problems doing a few ordinary seams in different weights, then it is something to do with the quilting process.
If the needle is breaking it is possible the material and the batting inside it is too tough for the needle. You can try a slimmer needle and you can try a thicker needle. If neither of those are an improvement, then you can be pretty sure it has something to do with the cloth moving when it shouldn't be moving.
I'd try doing the same kind of sewing you are doing, but not through batting and see if that gives the same result.
Also make sure you are putting the needle in the right way around. They have a front and a back and you might be putting your needle in backwards. I would also double check the diagram that shows how to do it, to make sure I was threading the machine and the bobbin correctly - It's quite easy to forget one place you need to loop the thread in one or the other location.
And if I still couldn't figure it out, I'd take the machine in for service.
Depending on the machine, I might be worried that I actually had a sewing machine that was of bad quality so that it was meant to not survive more than two or three relatively small sewing projects. They do sell machines that are that crappy, and you can't always tell by the brand name because of licensing and the corporate practice of gutting previously good brands.
posted by Jane the Brown at 6:58 PM on October 28, 2023 [8 favorites]
The first thing I would do is put the quilting project aside and see if your machine will successfully sew up a seam. I'd start with two thickness of medium weight fabric and a straight seam. If it does that without issue, I'd try doing curved seams and back stitching, and then I'd see if it could go through heavier weight fabric, and if it could go through lightweight fabric without making a mess or breaking or snarling the thread.
If it can do all that, the the problem is almost certainly what you are doing while trying to quilt and not a problem with the machine. If you have problems doing the simple stuff, it's time to take the machine in for service. If you have no problems doing a few ordinary seams in different weights, then it is something to do with the quilting process.
If the needle is breaking it is possible the material and the batting inside it is too tough for the needle. You can try a slimmer needle and you can try a thicker needle. If neither of those are an improvement, then you can be pretty sure it has something to do with the cloth moving when it shouldn't be moving.
I'd try doing the same kind of sewing you are doing, but not through batting and see if that gives the same result.
Also make sure you are putting the needle in the right way around. They have a front and a back and you might be putting your needle in backwards. I would also double check the diagram that shows how to do it, to make sure I was threading the machine and the bobbin correctly - It's quite easy to forget one place you need to loop the thread in one or the other location.
And if I still couldn't figure it out, I'd take the machine in for service.
Depending on the machine, I might be worried that I actually had a sewing machine that was of bad quality so that it was meant to not survive more than two or three relatively small sewing projects. They do sell machines that are that crappy, and you can't always tell by the brand name because of licensing and the corporate practice of gutting previously good brands.
posted by Jane the Brown at 6:58 PM on October 28, 2023 [8 favorites]
This has happened to me before, and eventually I figured out I was putting in the needle backwards.
posted by knucklebones at 7:00 PM on October 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by knucklebones at 7:00 PM on October 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
First of all, that's a really beautiful quilt!
I too think you should try sewing a simple seam on some plain cotton to see if the problem is the quilt or the machine. Actually, before that, without any thread or fabric, just manually turn the handwheel a bunch of times and carefully watch what the needle is doing.
But even before that I would do 2 things:
1) clean out the bobbin area very thoroughly. Look up how to do it on your model or similar on youtube; your machine probably came with a little brush you can use. You'll want to remove the bobbin case for thorough cleaning, and while it's out, inspect it carefully. Does it have any dings or scratches on it from being hit by a needle? Make very sure you replace the bobbin case correctly after you've taken it out.
2) look carefully at the needle plate: do there appear to be dings or scratches around the needle hole area (the opening the needle goes down through)?
Basically, the question is what the needles have been hitting - is something out of alignment in the bobbin area, and if so, is it something serious like a timing issue or more a matter of something not being seated quite correctly, maybe because of lint or just being knocked out of place or inserted badly. Or is the problem in the top part of the machine, affecting the needle alignment? Or is there something so thick in your new quilt that even though the machine is fine, the needles just can't deal with it?
posted by trig at 9:54 PM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
I too think you should try sewing a simple seam on some plain cotton to see if the problem is the quilt or the machine. Actually, before that, without any thread or fabric, just manually turn the handwheel a bunch of times and carefully watch what the needle is doing.
But even before that I would do 2 things:
1) clean out the bobbin area very thoroughly. Look up how to do it on your model or similar on youtube; your machine probably came with a little brush you can use. You'll want to remove the bobbin case for thorough cleaning, and while it's out, inspect it carefully. Does it have any dings or scratches on it from being hit by a needle? Make very sure you replace the bobbin case correctly after you've taken it out.
2) look carefully at the needle plate: do there appear to be dings or scratches around the needle hole area (the opening the needle goes down through)?
Basically, the question is what the needles have been hitting - is something out of alignment in the bobbin area, and if so, is it something serious like a timing issue or more a matter of something not being seated quite correctly, maybe because of lint or just being knocked out of place or inserted badly. Or is the problem in the top part of the machine, affecting the needle alignment? Or is there something so thick in your new quilt that even though the machine is fine, the needles just can't deal with it?
posted by trig at 9:54 PM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
(My guess, and the reason I recommend really thorough cleaning, is that you've got a bunch of thread tangled somewhere in the bobbin area that's causing this.
One thing to always keep in mind is that you don't want to ever sew through resistance you don't know the cause of - if your needle seems to really not want to go through something, then - especially if it's not some super thick wad of fabric where you would expect difficulty - don't force the needle through or try to keep sewing. Instead, remove the fabric from the machine and clean out the bobbin area. Sometimes, if things are really snarled up, you might have to cut threads or disassemble the whole area to get the fabric out. But you never want to force the needle to keep working, because the danger is that it or some other part will get knocked out of alignment, which among other things can affect the timing of the machine, which is what makes the needle work in sync with the bobbin. Hopefully that hasn't happened here.)
posted by trig at 10:04 PM on October 28, 2023
One thing to always keep in mind is that you don't want to ever sew through resistance you don't know the cause of - if your needle seems to really not want to go through something, then - especially if it's not some super thick wad of fabric where you would expect difficulty - don't force the needle through or try to keep sewing. Instead, remove the fabric from the machine and clean out the bobbin area. Sometimes, if things are really snarled up, you might have to cut threads or disassemble the whole area to get the fabric out. But you never want to force the needle to keep working, because the danger is that it or some other part will get knocked out of alignment, which among other things can affect the timing of the machine, which is what makes the needle work in sync with the bobbin. Hopefully that hasn't happened here.)
posted by trig at 10:04 PM on October 28, 2023
Response by poster: ok, I gave up on this project and started piecing the next project, returning to a regular needle and now the zipper foot (not the free motion quilting foot). I'm using the zipper foot right now because this new pattern requires 1/4 seams and in order to see what I'm doing when there's that little seam allowance I prefer the transparent zipper foot to the metal regular foot. Anyway, it's working fine on the piecing. So it's something with the quilting?
Oh...and umm...right...so the part of the quilt I'm quilting right now, for effect, I put a second layer of batting under specific areas of the quilt. It's pretty thin batting, but still there's twice as much there. The needles have been bending while i"m quilting this part. I don't think they bent on the other parts of the quilt. So if the issue is "too thick" then what do I do?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:32 PM on October 28, 2023
Oh...and umm...right...so the part of the quilt I'm quilting right now, for effect, I put a second layer of batting under specific areas of the quilt. It's pretty thin batting, but still there's twice as much there. The needles have been bending while i"m quilting this part. I don't think they bent on the other parts of the quilt. So if the issue is "too thick" then what do I do?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:32 PM on October 28, 2023
To clarify,
1) were you getting the thump/bending while not getting thread nests underneath the fabric?
2) how long were your stitches when you were getting the bending? Like, in mm? Were they really small or large? How quickly were you moving the fabric, and at what speed did you have the needle moving? When you examine the fabric at the point where the bending happens, after removing from the machine, do you see any knots or hard areas the needle might be catching on?
3) have you cleaned out the entire bobbin area thoroughly, including under the bobbin case (not just the bobbin)?
(ETA 4: what kind of needles are you using? Not size, but universal/ball point/stretch/denim/...?)
posted by trig at 10:39 PM on October 28, 2023
1) were you getting the thump/bending while not getting thread nests underneath the fabric?
2) how long were your stitches when you were getting the bending? Like, in mm? Were they really small or large? How quickly were you moving the fabric, and at what speed did you have the needle moving? When you examine the fabric at the point where the bending happens, after removing from the machine, do you see any knots or hard areas the needle might be catching on?
3) have you cleaned out the entire bobbin area thoroughly, including under the bobbin case (not just the bobbin)?
(ETA 4: what kind of needles are you using? Not size, but universal/ball point/stretch/denim/...?)
posted by trig at 10:39 PM on October 28, 2023
Response by poster: 1. Correct. The thread nests stopped once I started remembering to put the lever down. The free motion quilting foot has a little spring so it always looks "down" so it's kind of easy to forget.
2. I think I was sewing fairly slowly and the stiches are very small because it would stick and be kind of hard to move the fabric.
3. The bobbin is in front of the needle area, not directly under it. the area directly under the needle is not accessible. I don't think there's anything in there, but I can't get in to be sure. There is nothing in the area where the actual bobbin goes.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:43 PM on October 28, 2023
2. I think I was sewing fairly slowly and the stiches are very small because it would stick and be kind of hard to move the fabric.
3. The bobbin is in front of the needle area, not directly under it. the area directly under the needle is not accessible. I don't think there's anything in there, but I can't get in to be sure. There is nothing in the area where the actual bobbin goes.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:43 PM on October 28, 2023
Sorry, I'd abused the edit window and added a 4th question above about needles before you answered - shouldn't have done that. I'll add, though - what brand of needles?
The bobbin is in front of the needle area, not directly under it. the area directly under the needle is not accessible.
I don't know for sure about your model but make sure you've cleaned in there as thoroughly as possible - check the manual and YouTube for instructions. (It's something you need to do every so often anyway - between projects is a good minimum frequency.)
So if the issue is "too thick" then what do I do
If you're confident you've narrowed it down to thickness, try narrowing it down some more. Take a sandwich strip of the same fabric and same amount of batting and try sewing normally, with a regular pressure foot and tension. If that works then try the same but at all different stitch lengths and speeds. If that works then, in case you've been using a different tension settings for quilting, try the same with that setting. Are there any settings that work better or worse, or seem to give the needle a harder time?
posted by trig at 10:52 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
The bobbin is in front of the needle area, not directly under it. the area directly under the needle is not accessible.
I don't know for sure about your model but make sure you've cleaned in there as thoroughly as possible - check the manual and YouTube for instructions. (It's something you need to do every so often anyway - between projects is a good minimum frequency.)
So if the issue is "too thick" then what do I do
If you're confident you've narrowed it down to thickness, try narrowing it down some more. Take a sandwich strip of the same fabric and same amount of batting and try sewing normally, with a regular pressure foot and tension. If that works then try the same but at all different stitch lengths and speeds. If that works then, in case you've been using a different tension settings for quilting, try the same with that setting. Are there any settings that work better or worse, or seem to give the needle a harder time?
posted by trig at 10:52 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I was using the needles that came woth the machine then Singer Universal them Shmetz or something like that quilting.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:12 PM on October 28, 2023
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:12 PM on October 28, 2023
I have a sewing machine I’ve hardly used, so this answer is not exactly coming from a depth of experience.
But if the needle is tilted even slightly from the direction of motion of the part that holds it, as it goes down through the material, the material will exert a strong lateral bending force on the needle.
You could probably see this by hand cranking it through the cycle and watching the path of the needle. If it turns out the needle is out alignment there might be an adjustment, but if you bent some part of the assembly that holds the needle I think you should seek professional help.
posted by jamjam at 12:06 AM on October 29, 2023
But if the needle is tilted even slightly from the direction of motion of the part that holds it, as it goes down through the material, the material will exert a strong lateral bending force on the needle.
You could probably see this by hand cranking it through the cycle and watching the path of the needle. If it turns out the needle is out alignment there might be an adjustment, but if you bent some part of the assembly that holds the needle I think you should seek professional help.
posted by jamjam at 12:06 AM on October 29, 2023
I realized on my machine when I had my (plastic) quilting plate in I was pushing/pulling my fabric too much that it was flexing the needle and the needle would strike the edge of the plate. it was chipping away at the edges of the plate and that's how I noticed. you might be flexing the needle so hard that it's full on hitting the plate and bending.
posted by simplethings at 12:44 AM on October 29, 2023
posted by simplethings at 12:44 AM on October 29, 2023
Couple of things-you're getting great advice here. I second the suggestion to hand turn the wheel slowly and listen carefully for clicks or if the needle looks wobbly. My gut says needle isn't installed properly, or is not tightened properly.
And PLEASE get yourself some safety glasses!! I have picked a broken needle point out of my cheek when sewing multiple layers of denim. For regular sewing I don't bother, but for thick fabric or difficult heavy duty projects I keep a pair of safety glasses close by.
posted by LaBellaStella at 5:12 AM on October 29, 2023 [9 favorites]
And PLEASE get yourself some safety glasses!! I have picked a broken needle point out of my cheek when sewing multiple layers of denim. For regular sewing I don't bother, but for thick fabric or difficult heavy duty projects I keep a pair of safety glasses close by.
posted by LaBellaStella at 5:12 AM on October 29, 2023 [9 favorites]
Have you dropped the feed dogs when using the free motion foot?
posted by gryphonlover at 7:34 AM on October 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by gryphonlover at 7:34 AM on October 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Have you dropped the feed dogs when using the free motion foot?
They don't drop. You cover them with a plate. They're covered.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:41 AM on October 29, 2023
They don't drop. You cover them with a plate. They're covered.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:41 AM on October 29, 2023
There are anti-friction sheets of plastic you can buy, or try those clear paper protectors from the dollar store. Cut a hole large enough to sew through and tape it down well. It should make moving the fabric easier.
posted by Enid Lareg at 9:30 AM on October 29, 2023
posted by Enid Lareg at 9:30 AM on October 29, 2023
I think that if you have gone through all of the suggestions here, and tried them all, and still are stuck, then I would bring the machine and the quilt to a sewing shop if you have one anywhere nearby. You want a place that doesn't only do repairs but also instruction and lessons, where someone will watch you as you sew your actual quilt on your own machine and see what's going wrong. They should also show you how to take apart the bobbin and needle plate area and clean it out.
posted by trig at 9:40 AM on October 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by trig at 9:40 AM on October 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
Is it possible that the plate is reducing the space above the needle too much, and the needle is bending because it's hitting the plate? If you run with just one piece of fabric, AND the plate, does it bend?
posted by hydra77 at 2:35 PM on October 29, 2023
posted by hydra77 at 2:35 PM on October 29, 2023
Response by poster: I don't think it's anything to do with hitting the plate. The clunk happens when it's way below the plate so I probably do need to figure out how to open it up and clean it out.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:53 PM on October 29, 2023
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:53 PM on October 29, 2023
Are you threading the bobbin correctly? Also check the thread path of the upper spool. But it sounds like the thread is getting caught up somewhere until it bends the needle and snaps. Are the stitches even? or do they get really tiny? But that doesn’t explain why sewing on scrap cloth is okay.
Is the weight of the quilt hanging off the edge of your table? You need to pile it on a chair or something so it doesn’t pull at the area you are sewing.
I also wonder if your needle is off center and getting nicked on the plate and then catching on the fiberfill and pulling it underneath.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:56 AM on October 30, 2023
Is the weight of the quilt hanging off the edge of your table? You need to pile it on a chair or something so it doesn’t pull at the area you are sewing.
I also wonder if your needle is off center and getting nicked on the plate and then catching on the fiberfill and pulling it underneath.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:56 AM on October 30, 2023
When I get a clunk it often means I need to clean up everything -- it's amazing how much lint gets in there -- and give the wick a few drops of oil.
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:57 AM on October 30, 2023
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:57 AM on October 30, 2023
Again, I think you materials could be the problem. Your batting might simply be some kind of polyester that is not easy to sew.
You've tried a heavier weight needle that can punch through heavier weight material? And you've tried a slimmer needle that might be able to dart through between fibres? If that doesn't work, and you are using different batting than the first quilt, I would try sewing through a few scraps of the old batting sandwiched between this quilt's fabric.
Rather than commercial quilt batting, you can try filling a quilt with layers of other soft fabric. This is especially good when you are making a quilt that will be used for warmth rather than one that is just decorative. I expect you are already at a place in the assembly where you really won't want to change the batting however.
posted by Jane the Brown at 6:00 AM on October 31, 2023
You've tried a heavier weight needle that can punch through heavier weight material? And you've tried a slimmer needle that might be able to dart through between fibres? If that doesn't work, and you are using different batting than the first quilt, I would try sewing through a few scraps of the old batting sandwiched between this quilt's fabric.
Rather than commercial quilt batting, you can try filling a quilt with layers of other soft fabric. This is especially good when you are making a quilt that will be used for warmth rather than one that is just decorative. I expect you are already at a place in the assembly where you really won't want to change the batting however.
posted by Jane the Brown at 6:00 AM on October 31, 2023
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:50 PM on October 28, 2023 [9 favorites]