Threading a needle can be tricky. Sometimes the thread just does not want to go through the eye of the needle - like those 3 strands of dark red floss and the no. 12 perle in the needles in my pincushion.
The close up photo on Quora in this link here helps explain why a thread can be so stubborn*.
As a child, I learnt to solve the problem of trying to push those splaying fibres through the hole by first giving the thread a quick lick and a pinch. This may be fine for a piece of embroidery that will soon be washed. If not, the tiny drops of saliva that are transferred to the fabric may with time cause small yellowish spots on the embroidery.
If your needle refuses to be threaded, rather wet the very tip of the thread in a saucer of clean water, squeeze it between your fingers and then thread the needle.
Another method of threading the needle is to fold the end of the thread over the needle, pinch the two threads together near the fold, and push the folded edge through the eye. It works first time nearly every time for me.
Next time I'll show you the little pulled thread sampler I wrote about here and here, and how I finished it off.
Till then, happy stitching!
*Thanks to Carina of Carina's Craftblog for sharing the link.
What a beautiful pin cushion!
ReplyDeleteYes, I lick the thread (especially when the thread is a bit fuzzy) before I thread the needle. Before I start stitching, though, I cut off that wet tip of the thread.
Also I find it so much easier to 'needle the thread' = I pinch the thread between thumb and index finder on my left hand (I am right handed) and push the needle's eye onto the thread. It works 98% of the time.
Thank you.
DeleteI too 'needle the thread' and cut off the damp bit. Have you noticed that the eye of the needle is sometimes a bit damp too?
I always pinch and slide the needle over the fold. If it doesn’t go through, I get a needle with a bigger eye. Your pin cushion is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteGoods tips! Thank you.
DeleteHello, I thought you may be interested in how needles are made and how to thread them better. This link
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZJPpuL2sqQ
takes 5 minutes to watch but worth seeing.
I found the trick of threading is that in the making, the needle eye has a large side opening and a smaller one. The Smaller side is The One to pass the thread through.Trim the thread beforehand. I hope you find it helpful.
I have found some needles will thread from one side and not the other. Thanks for sharing this.
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