How to change a sewing machine needle

Change the needle about every 8 hours of sewing (Schmetz) or at the start of each project: loosen the clamp, drop the old one out, push the new one fully up with the flat side to the back, and tighten.

Pinny's tip
Slip fabric or paper under the presser foot first so it covers the holes in the needle plate and the needle can't drop in.

What you'll need

• New needle in the right type and size: universal needles suit most woven and knit fabrics; pick the size for your thread and fabric.
• Small screwdriver or the machine's own tool: some clamps are too tight for fingers.
• A scrap of paper: slip it under the foot so the old needle can't drop into the bobbin area.

Step by step

1. Turn the machine off, so it can't start sewing if a button is knocked.
2. Raise the needle to its highest point and lower the presser foot.
3. Hold the old needle and turn the needle clamp screw towards you (anticlockwise) to release it. Don't force the screw.
4. Check your manual for which way the flat side of the shank faces. On most domestic machines it faces the back.
5. Push the new needle up until it touches the needle stopper, then hold it and tighten the clamp screw securely.

Common mistakes

• Not pushing the needle all the way up. The machine skips stitches or the hook can hit the needle.
• Flat side the wrong way. Stitches skip and the thread may shred. Check your manual.
• Using one needle for months. A blunt or bent needle snags fabric and causes looping. Replace it about every 8 hours of sewing (Schmetz), at the start of each project, or after hitting a pin.

Watch it done

• How To: Change Needle on Sewing Machine (Sewing for Beginners) by Made to Sew on YouTube. Opens on YouTube; the video belongs to its creator.
• Sewing Skill Builder: HOW TO CHANGE A SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE. by LearnCreateSew (LearnCreateSew) on YouTube. Opens on YouTube; the video belongs to its creator.

Sources

All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

1. Brother Canada support: Change or replace the needle
2. SCHMETZ: Needle Guide
3. YouTube: How To: Change Needle on Sewing Machine (Sewing for Beginners) (Made to Sew)
4. YouTube: Sewing Skill Builder: HOW TO CHANGE A SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE. (LearnCreateSew (LearnCreateSew))