14 Reasons : Why Do Sewing Machine Needles Break?

You have just been sewing along, everything is going fine and then you hear a clunk. You look down and the needle has broken inside the fabric! You are half way through a project and you have to stop and fix it now.

You’ve spent hours on your latest sewing project, you’ve spent money on all the correct materials, you’ve followed the instructions to the letter and now the dreaded moment has come – but the broken needle of your sewing machine…!

There are several reasons that your sewing machine needle can snap or break. This blog post is here to help you work out “Why do sewing machine needles break?” “What Is The Cause Of Needle Breaking?” and how to make sure it doesn’t happen again?

Why Do Sewing Machine Needles Break?

Sewing machine Needles breaking for no reason is a common problem. In fact, it’s so common that most of us have experienced it at one point in time. If you are like me, you are ready to throw your machine out the window when it happens. Nothing is more frustrating than sitting in front of your sewing machine, threading your new needle and then when you go to sew your first seam, the needle breaks. Your machine is now out of commission because now you have to replace the needle.

Needle breaking frustrating makes you unable to learn the reason of its breaking, and you just quickly want to replace the needle and start sewing as soon as possible. But it is essential that you do as a lot of needle breakages are an early warning sign that something is wrong with your sewing machine. So why did your needle break? The reason (along with the solution) is probably one of the following (along with how to resolve needle breaks?):

1. Using The Same Needle For A Long Period Of Time:

Most commonly the problem is due to poor quality needles.  A needle should last at least a year of sewing if not more.  If you have been sewing for some time you would know that this is not always the case.  When you buy a new needle you will often be told to change your needle after a certain number of hours of sewing.

Always learn the specification of needles and change it before any damage. Replacing the needle on proper time is highly recommended. Try to check the Sewingt Machine Needles here!

2. Not Using the Correct Needle

When you buy a new sewing machine, it usually comes with a few different needles. It’s important to know which one is right for which kind of fabric and project you are working on. Even if you are not sure what kind of fabric you are going to use, it’s still a good idea to take a quick look at the needle included with your machine.

There are different kinds of needles for different types of clothes. choosing of right kind of needle for sewing specific kind of clothes are recommended for brilliant sewing results as well. So, are you using the correct needle?

3. Quality Of Needle Can Cause Problem

All the needles that are available on the market today are made from steel but the quality can vary depending on the brand. If you have a cheaper needle that is made from inferior steel, then that would explain why your machine needle broke. The needle will become bent over time and this will cause problems with the way the thread is fed through the machine.

The best way to fix this is to replace the needle as often as possible. Otherwise the best option is to purchase a good quality needle.

4. Needle Is Not On Its Right Position

It is important to understand the difference between your needle position and needle type. The needle position determines if your needle can travel up or down and through what type of material. The needle type will determine the size of the needle and the type of stitch your machine can make. If you have changed either of these things, then your needle is no longer in the right position to make the stitch type it was originally made for.

Fix the needle according to instruction given in the manual.

5. Needle Is Hitting The Stitching Plate

When a needle breaks inside the fabric it is usually because it has hit the sewing machine plate. This is especially common on older machines. You may not even know you are hitting it if you are not looking at your needle as you sew. The needle may also break if you are sewing too fast or if you have a bent needle.

The best way to avoid hitting the sewing plate is to slow down (I know easier said than done) and to make sure your needle is not bent. If it does happen to hit the plate, the needle is probably bent. Replace the needle and then more than likely your needle threader will not work properly.

6. Bobbin Case Is Full of Lint or Needle Is Hitting The Bobbin Case

If you are lucky, you might hear a little tap noise as the needle hits the top of the bobbin case. Or you might just find a pile of needles on the floor. I have even had the needle fly out of the machine and land in the pile of fabric. Regardless of how it happens, you are left with a pile of needles and need to replace the needle on your sewing machine.

A lot of people don’t realize that their bobbin case is full of lint. You see, when you use a sewing machine and the bobbin gets wound with thread, the lint from the spool of thread will get on the bobbin case. A lot of people don’t realize that this lint is in the bobbin case and it transfers to the spool of thread, but without you realizing it.

7. Spool Cap Is Missing Or Not Inserted Properly

A spool cap is a small piece of plastic that is designed to fit onto the end of your sewing machine spool and is used to catch your thread to keep it from unraveling. Most machines have 2 spool caps and they are usually easy to find as they are usually in the same location on your machine. They are usually a clear or black round piece of plastic.

If a spool cap is missing or not inserted properly than it may cause the needle to break so insert it properly.

8. Thread Is Not on the Spool Pin Securely

When it comes to sewing, the number one cause of broken needles is not having the thread on the machine spool pin securely. The first thing is to check that you have the thread securely on the spool pin.  This will generally mean taking out the spool pin and threading it in again.  Check each thread end to make sure it is in a clean thread groove and not on the side of the spool pin, which could easily break when you start to sew.

9. Incorrect Presser Foot Attachment

Incorrect foot attachment is one of the most common reasons for the needle breaking on your sewing machine. A lot of sewing machine needles are very fine and the amount of pressure put on them by the presser foot can often break them.

It is important to check your machine manual to see if it recommends changing your presser foot to a heavier one when you are sewing.

10. Sewing over pins

Sewing over pins when you are sewing is a common mistake that many amateur sewers make. When you sew over pins you are basically stabbing your needle into the pin and putting a lot of pressure on the needle. This puts a lot of stress on the needle and can cause it to break.

If you have to sew over pins it is best to use a pin cushion that will hold the pins and keep them out of the way of the needle. otherwise pluck out the pin or pick the presser foot while sewing on pin.

11. Pulling Your Fabric as You Sew

One of the most common reason that a needle breaks is because the user is pulling their fabric as they sew. This causes the needle to break in the presser foot, which is not a warranty issue. The needle will break in the presser foot if it is not inserted all the way into the needle clamp. There are two reasons why the needle will not be inserted all the way into the needle clamp. The first is that the needle is bent. The second is that the needle is damaged in some way.

12. Sewing Machine Is Not Threaded Correctly

The most common reason for your needle to break is that it is not threaded correctly; so let’s start there. You will need to check your manual to see exactly how your machine is meant to be threaded, but usually you will need to thread the needle from the right to the left. This is the opposite to how it is done when you are using your machine!

13. Thread Tension Is Too Tight

If you ever find yourself with too tight thread tension on your sewing machine it can be the cause of your needles breaking. When tension is too tight when you sew it can cause tiny little tears to appear in the fabric. These tears are the result of the thread pulling too tight on the fabric as it’s being sewn. When the needle sews through this fragile thread the needle can get stuck. To fix this:

14. Incorrect thread type

A faulty thread can break the needle, leading to a costly repair or even a Sewing Machine Malfunction. Always choose a correct type of sewing thread according to your needle type and fabric type.

Conclusion | Why do sewing machine needles break?

There and many causes of Sewing Machine Needles breaking. From the needle being old and ready to be replaced to the tip being blunt or the machine being put under too much strain. There are several reasons that the hand could break, and each one requires a different treatment technique.

We hope that this blog has helped you understand why your needle broke and how to make sure it doesn’t happen again!

Note: Oiling a machine also helps in some cases.

FAQs | Why do sewing machine needles break?