What Causes Broken Sewing Machine Needle and How to Fix It

Fact Checked By:Aithley Balder

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These Easy Steps Will Show You How to Fix a Broken Sewing Machine Needle!

Do you have any issues with your sewing machine? You’re not the only one. The good news is that the most frequent sorts of sewing machine issues may be resolved.

Sewing machine needles take a lot of care and attention to maintain them in excellent operating condition, and that includes the machine itself.

Sewing a garment and discovering that the needle or bobbin thread has run out is a terrible experience, especially if you’re halfway through.

Tips on how to mend needles on sewing machines will be discussed in this blog article.

This is a typical issue with sewing machines, so learning how to fix it can help you have better success with your sewing tasks.

What is the definition of a sewing machine needle?

needle broke on sewing machine

As a general rule, a sewing needle is a small, pointed instrument that pierces the threads of one or both pieces of fabric to join them together.

For sewing machines, this is a needle that has been carefully designed. Compared to other needles, this one is a lot more durable.

It is possible to use a sewing machine needle that is made of metal, plastic, or other materials, depending on the material you are stitching.

When it comes to bobbin threading, various sewing needles have varied eye shapes that affect how they perform.

Sewing machine needles typically come in one of three types:

Universal Needles

If you’re dealing with a variety of materials, you’ll need a variety of universal needles.

Denim/Jeans Sewing Machine Needles

For heavy-duty activities like stitching jeans, needles for denim/jeans sewing machines are an excellent choice since they don’t need to be trimmed first.

Sewing Machine Needles with Ball Points

The first step to preventing needle-related sewing machine issues is to choose the correct kind of sewing needles.

Knowing what sort of needle to use will become less of a difficulty as you get more information and expertise

Sewing machine needles that are bent or damaged

It is easy to break or bend sewing machine needles since they are so little and delicate. In the case of denim and leather, this is a frequent problem.

However, if your sewing needle has been used too often without being replaced, this issue may arise (the metal around the shaft of the needle becomes worn down). You may just buy a new one in this situation.

Stop stitching immediately if your needle breaks or bends.

When your sewing machine needle bends, it’s best to replace it immediately away with a new one since continuing to use it might further harm the cloth and perhaps cause the needle to shatter. To change the needle, follow the instructions in your sewing machine’s instruction manual and remove the old one.

If the sewing machine needles aren’t bent and the cloth is just lightly scratched, it’s possible that they don’t need to be changed.

Here’s a helpful tips:

needle broke in sewing machine

If you find that your needle is slightly bent while you’re sewing, pause for a while and check if it straightens out again. Customer service should be called if the needle continues to bend after a few tries.

The following are some possible causes:

  • worn-out metal shafts on vintage sewing machines (the metal around the front of where the needle goes)
  • Stitching that’s too tight
  • Sewing on thick textiles results in excessive pressure being exerted.

When purchasing a new sewing machine, there is usually a spare pair of needles included.

If your sewing machine needles continue to bend or break in an abnormally frequent way, you may be dealing with mechanical problems.

If your sewing machine is in need of urgent repair, you should call a sewing machine expert to inspect and fix it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

How frequently should I replace the needle on my sewing machine?

It’s important to know how often to change the needle on my sewing machine.  Every three to five hours of stitching, it’s recommended that you switch out the sewing machine needle.

Because the metal around the needle’s shaft wears down over time, a dull sewing needle is more likely to snag and tear cloth than a fresh one.
As a result, you might end up with damaged needles and fabric if you don’t replace them with a new one.

Observe your sewing machine while sewing for any scratches or bends in the needles if there are no obvious symptoms that it needs to be replaced.
If this occurs, make sure you have new, sharp sewing machine needles on hand before continuing to work on your project.

A fresh needle should be used for every single job, and spare needles should be available in case you find yourself working for an extended period on one piece of work.

Always change sewing machine needles if they get bent due to excessive usage!

How do I change the needles on my sewing machine?

Remove the needle plate from the sewing machine before replacing sewing machine needles. After that, pull open the clamps holding your sewing foot pressure bar with a flat-head screwdriver.

After that, remove any clips or springs you notice and loosen all of the screws to reveal the slot for the sewing needle on top of the sewing belt.

Slide out your old sewing needle with one hand while guiding it with another piece of fabric so as not to drop it.

Last but not least, apply pressure firmly to your new sewing needle until it snaps securely into place at both ends—then reverse the removal procedure and connect everything else. Begin re-threading and then proceed with your project as normal.

If none of those works, try carefully removing and reinserting your sewing needle.

Try stitching a tiny piece of fabric to see if that helps with the issue if this does not.

You may use pliers or tweezers to grasp hold of the sewing needle as near to its side as possible without touching any other part of it before pulling it back into place while making sure that no portions are twisted or broken off inside.
Avoid rushing through any of the steps since doing so will simply result in additional difficulties that weren’t there before to the haste.

Is it possible for sewing machines to break needles?

Yes, in a nutshell. Sewing needles may be damaged by sewing machines.

As the sewing machine’s arm pushes on the needle to generate stitching, it gradually bends the sewing needle.

Because of bent or broken sewing needles, a finished product may not meet quality standards, necessitating the purchase of more sewing needles.

How can I detect if my sewing machine’s needles are breaking?

It’s possible that the needle is bent owing to a lack of support from its companion components during operation with a running seamstress’ foot pedal pushed down if you see stitches in your finished product where just one side has been sewed through while another section remains unstitched.

Another symptom to watch out for is needles that have been chipped or broken at the tip.

Conclusion

Whenever your sewing machine requires immediate repair, you should contact a sewing machine specialist who will evaluate and repair it.

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Aithley Balder

Hello there, my name is Aithley Balder from Texas. I am a cookware, sewing, toilet, technology enthusiast and I have been sharing my passion with my friends and likeminded folks for close to 4 years now. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me via the contact page.