Needle Points

Everyone tells you to change your needle often.  Did you ever wonder why?

Ideally, a sharp needle slides between the threads of a fabric, but needle points get dull with use.  When they get really flat on the end, you begin to head a thunking noise as they punch their way through the fabric.  Not only this sounds bad, but it weakens your fabric.

This picture was taken by Silvia Dell'Aere, www.orkaloca.com, an Italian quilter, using a microscope.  The top needle shows what the point looks like when the needle is new and the bottom one shows what happens to a needle over time.

Bottom needle tip is dulled and blunt from use