9 Tips for Threading a Needle
Plus a bonus "miracle" tip!
I’m firmly in the Middle Ages. No, not the knights-in-armor or women-in-long-pointy-hats Middle Ages. It’s the middle ages where there’s a new discovery every day: Is that a bunion? Five more chin hairs?
Anyway, the failing eyesight is for me one of the most annoying developments. I’m keenly aware that aging is a privilege, but it’s just irritating to be at a complete loss without my readers. Same for you?
When the readers only had to be pulled out occasionally, I would hand things to my teenage daughter and ask “What does this say?” She put up with this clear sign of my mortifying decrepitude for a short time. Then her standard response became “It says: Go get your glasses.”
Anyway, If you’re like me, threading a needle takes an internal pep talk, a head lamp and the patience of a saint. So…. I rounded up a list of tips and tricks for getting that *%^!*-ing thread through that ^#*^*! hole. See number 10 for the tip that works like magic… for the person who made the video.
1. Cut it clean and short.
This has always been my go-to method, where you cut the thread cleanly at a 45-degree angle and hold it between your thumb and finger with just a tiny, tiny bit of the thread end showing. Then you lay the needle on the end and pull it through. But now that my ability to focus on close work has left the building, this approach isn’t so foolproof for me anymore. The tip in this video, where you use your fingers to PUSH the thread end through seems helpful.
2. Put something white behind the needle
I’ve found that this tip works especially well when threading my sewing machine needle. Try keeping a small square of white felt pinned to your pin cushion.
3. Lick and stick.
It’s an age-old tip, but it works by aligning all the fibers together tightly. Combine this with tip 1 where you cut the thread with sharp scissors at a 45-degree angle for even better success.
4. Use a needle threader.
A classic solution that works. I tried upping the game on this and ordered this needle threader.
Unfortunately, the tiny “beak” of the bird needs to go through the eye of the needle to make it work. If I could easily put something tiny through the eye of the needle, I wouldn’t need this darling little helper in the first place. :0(
Keep scrolling for more tips…
5. Use a stiffener or thread conditioner.
I haven’t tried this tip, but the general idea is to make the thread stiffer so you have a better shot at threading it. Internet tips on what to use include beeswax, hair spray, dried glue or water.
6. Use tweezers.
I guess the long bent kind could be helpful in coaxing the thread through the eye, but it seems like you would need a third hand for this maneuver.
7. Use a droplet of water on your finger next to the needle or wet the needle.
Hey! This tip worked for me, but I will need to practice it a bit more. Here’s a video that, although it’s a bit fuzzy, will give you the jist. You can also try wetting the eye of the needle.
8. Fold and pinch.
This is especially helpful when working with yarn, thicker embroidery floss or perle cotton and a needle with a fairly large eye. Wrap the floss over the eye of the needle and pinch it to create a sharp crease. Hold the folded floss tightly between your finger and thumb, then set the eye of the needle down over this folded crease and pull it through.
9. Use a strip of paper.
Cut a short strip of paper that’s narrow enough to go through the eye of the needle when folded in half lengthwise. Lay your thread end along the fold line, fold the paper and push it through the needle eye. Then keep pulling to bring the thread all the way through.
10. The Magic Roller
When I saw this video, I just had to try it. Could be operator error, or maybe my winter hands are too dry or something, but I couldn’t make this work. I hope you’ll have better luck because it looks brilliant.
Do you have any needle threading tips I didn’t mention?
That’s it for this week. Get those needles threaded and enjoy some slow stitching!
—Janice