This article is brought to you by Lizzsews.
If your machine embroidery needle keeps breaking, here’s a list of questions to ask yourself and how to fix the problem. So that you can prevent breaking all those needles!
Is the needle pushed all the way up?
Before your needle broke, was it pushed all the way up? This one is an easy fix, when putting in your next needle, make sure it is pushed all the way up and tighten it as much as you can.
Recommended read: Learning To Sew: Getting The Machine Ready To Sew
Is the needle in properly?
You’ve pushed the needle all the way up and tightened it as much as you can so it’s not loose, but did you put it in properly? You want to make sure the flat part of the needle is facing towards the back of your machine.
Is the embroidery foot on correctly?
When your needle broke, did it hit the embroidery foot? This might mean that your embroidery foot isn’t on correctly. What you can do to fix this is to take off the embroidery foot and put it back on. When you are putting it back on, make sure you’re putting it on correctly and tighten it as much as you can. -Make sure that it's not bent or dented too.
Was your needle bent?
Was your needle already bent before you started embroidering? Did the needle hit the embroidery foot before it broke? Bent needles are hard to spot, the way you can fix this is to remember to change your needle approximately every 8 hours of embroidering.
Recommended read: When should I change the needle for machine embroidery
What brand of embroidery needles are you using?
Try using different embroidery needle brands until you find the one that your machine and you like. I suggest trying Schmetz.
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| I suggest using the New Brothread brand of thread |
Is your machine threaded properly?
Are you threading your machine with the presser foot up? You want to make sure that the presser foot is up when your thread your machine because if the presser foot is down, it will add unwanted tension to the threading. Also, make sure that your thread isn’t getting caught on anything as it goes through the machine.
Recommended read: How To Thread Your Sewing Machine
Are you using the spool holder on the machine?
I suggest not using the spool holder that’s on the machine. It causes a lot of problems and doesn’t give the thread long enough to be loose before it goes through the thread guides. Using a thread stand, or putting the thread in a cup behind your machine can also stop the thread from getting caught on anything.
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Recommended read: Why You Should Use A Thread Stand When Machine Embroidering
Is the blank you’re embroidering too thick?
Are you embroidering on a bulky seam or a thick fabric? If you’re embroidering on something very thick make sure you have a new and sharp needle.
Recommended read: What are blanks
Are you using the right needle for the project?
Are you embroidering heavier fabrics? Like denim or leather? If so, you’ll want to use a heavier needle size like 90/14. If you’re just embroidering mid-weight fabrics, you’ll want to use 75/11.
Are you using sewing needles?
Make sure that you are using specifically embroidery needles and not sewing needles.
Is your machine going too fast?
Especially if you are using heavier fabrics, needles can be bent easily at high speeds. A quick fix would be to slow down your machine if you can.
Keep in mind that the speed of your embroidery machine might not be adjustable, for example, you cannot change the speed of the Brother SE600. The switch for speed on the machine is only for sewing.
Recommended read: Brother se600 review, opinions and pros and cons
Is your project hooped tight enough?
If your blank is moving around in the hoop, your needle might get caught on it and break. It's important to secure your material while you're embroidering. If it's too hard to hoop your material, float it- and use a basting box to secure it in place.
Recommended read: How to float your machine embroidery project
What’s your tension at?
I suggest never changing the tension on your machine. If you’ve changed your tension recently, put it back to the default tensions and leave it there. This said some people can change their tensions without problems.
Recommended read: How to understand changing the tension on your embroidery and sewing machine, straight to the point
Is your bobbin in the bobbin case correctly?
Make sure that your bobbin is not upside down.
Recommended read: How To Wind And Install The Bobbin On Your Sewing Machine
Are you using a stabilizer?
Make sure that you are using a stabilizer! Not using a stabilizer can cause you a lot of problems with your machine embroidery, but using the wrong stabilizer for your blank can also cause problems. There are three main types of machine embroidery stabilizers, cutaway, tear away and wash away.
Recommended read: Guide To The Three Main Machine Embroidery Stabilizers
Are you embroidering thick materials with a wash away/water-soluble stabilizer?
If you are embroidering thick materials, make sure that you are using a water-soluble stabilizer on the top. This can not only prevent your needle from breaking but also help prevent the design from sinking into the material!
Recommended read: How To Embroider And Hoop Towels
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| This photo shows Baby Yoda embroidery design from Lizzsews Etsy shop being embroidered out onto a towel using a wash-away stabilizer on the top and bottom of the towel. |
How to tell if your needle needs to be changed:
- Puckered fabrics
- Needle is bent
- Thread is shredding
- Skipped stitches
- Hearing the needle hit the machine
- Uneven threads
- Needle is dull
Recommended read: When should I change the needle for machine embroidery
Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think! And don't forget to subscribe to get notified for my next blog post.
Are you still having problems? Recommended read: Machine embroidery troubleshooting fixes guide
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