What am I doing wrong?
 

I am doing some quilting on my domestic machine. I want to bury the ends of my threads. I bought a pack of those easy thread needles, the ones where you pull the thread through the end. Every time I try to pull the thread through, the thread breaks. I have watched Leah Day videos, and she doesn't have any problems. I've done several searches on this board.What am I doing wrong. I am open to any suggestions, including tips for burying threads.

will watch thread. trying to learn how to do this.

Is it possible the needle has a burr in the eye? Did you try with a different needle in the pack?

I don't bury threads unless it is for a juryed show quilt or I am hand quilting. I take several teeny tiny stitches and snip my thread at the surface of the quilt. Those teeny tiny ones don't come out.

There are several different types of these needles. there's the one's with a "V" in the top, ones with a slit in the side and the ones that have a spiral. I have never been successful with the ones with the "V" cotton thread always seems to break. I got the ones from JoAnn's, with the slit in the side of the eye. I think they were $10 for 8 or 10 needles. They work OK, but do make a large hole which goes away if you rub it, or launder it. The spiral ones are supposed to be wonderful, but should be for the price:
http://www.spiraleyeneedles.com/Needles.html

Are you talking about the spiral eye needles? If so, Pam Turner's website has a video on how to use the needle. Left hand side of the page, half way down.
http://www.spiraleyeneedles.com/

When I bury threads, I use a larger eyed needle as I can't see the hole for nothin'. The needle is real thin and 1 7/8" long. Don't know the brand, and is not a hand-stitching needle.

On my last stitch, I do back stitch. I cut the threads leaving about 8" strands from top and bobbin threads. I just keep sewing and bury the threads when I have enough room to maneuver the quilt for burying the threads. I take the top thread and pull up slightly to bring the bottom thread through the quilt. With needle eye end, I pull the bottom thread to the top, then make a quilters knot close to the quilt. Pull up the threads together and snip the ends so they are even. Thread both threads. Next I put the needle through the hole made by both threads and make one stitch along the seam line. Guide the needle along the seam in the batting layer, bringing up the needle and thread along the seam line. Back stitch one and guide the needle through to the batting to the side of the seam line and go as far as the needle will go. The needle of course needs to come back up through the front of the quilt. Pull the threads a little taut and snip. But not too close to the fabric to prevent cutting into the fabric.

There are many tutorials online for burying threads in different ways. This is how I learned and it works for me.

I highly recommend the officialy Spiral Eye needle. There is a knock off made in China that am told is not as good as the original. Am told you can get 4-5 or so at the box stores for about $10. but they are not finished like the official (if you can call it that) Spiral Eye. So for me the additional cost of the official is worth it. I use the #8. The time saved in threading is worth the extra $$ to me. Thread doesn't break - at least I havn't found it so and the needle doesn't come unthreaded like the "v" type does.

I never use easy thread needles anymore because 1) the thread broke constantly and 2) the needle broke constantly. I think the slit they make weakens the needle significantly. I always felt like I should be wearing safety glasses when using those!

Thanks for the help. I've watched several tutorial, but there's nothing better than advice from those who have "been there and done that". Thanks

I got this thing that looks like a tiny crochet hook that is made especially for burying threads. I have only used it once but it was easier than the needles which I used in the past. It is called a soft touch thread pic.

I guess I'll be the dissenting voice here. I use Fons and Porter's self-threading needles. The ones with a 'V'. I also frequently use Aurifil 50wt thread, which is a thin 2ply thread, for quilting and I have not had any problems with the thread or needles breaking. Here is what I have learned: You must have a fairly decent size thread tail so that you are not pulling down hard on the thread. With a longer piece of thread it is easier to slide the needle onto the thread. Also, I always use the largest size in the pack that helps minimize breakage as well.

I also have a Soft Touch thread pick but I haven't tried it yet. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

Same here, teeny tiny at the start and the end

I had the same problem with a pack I bought. I tried all of them and the thread just broke. So I sent a nice email to the company that made them asking if I could be doing something wrong when threading them. They sent me another pack of needles and I had no more trouble - maybe sometimes there's a glitch in the manufacture.

I bought the ones with the v and the thread broke every time. Took the back to the store and they worked perfectly for the lady who waited on me. Continued to break for me. I bought some cheap needle threaders and they worked fine. Buried all the threads (and there were a lot) in a very short time. Worked great for me and only cost a couple of dollars.
Sue

I'm happy to hear that it's not just ME. Think I will try a different needle.

Burying your threads in the quilt
 

I went on you tube and typed in what I was looking for and got this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmZAzW_175s

Try this method it seems to work better. Good luck!

I don't use anything extra. I make a quilter's knot a few stitches from where I want the thread to enter the fabric. Then, I slide the needle between the batting and backing and pop it inside; move it an inch or two inside the quilt. I exit the quilt, snip the thread and the long tail slips inside the quilt. I have never had a problem with tails coming undone.

I use those needles most of the time. Just gently pull the thread threw. When my thread is very fine, I use a regular needle and threader to thread them with. Never have a problem.

What is a quilter's knot?

I have not had any trouble with these needles, however, I have had trouble with some threads. Did you try using a different spool of thread. I, myself, would rather use a needle threader if you are having trouble with breaking.

This is the neatest way to bury those threads from longarm quilting I have seen. Have a quilt about read to come off of a frame and will need to bury some threads and will definitely try this. Was not looking forward to trying to thread that needle on each one of them, but this will solve the problem. When hand quilting I take a tiny stitch at the end of my quilting and then bury the end of the thread in the quilt and have never had any trouble. Have had some tell me they don't take the tiny stitch, but just bury the tread some length of away from the last stitch.
Thanks for the link and Happy Quilting to every one.

themachinelady

I love this method of hers. Had never seen it before in my 60 some years. That proofs, that you can learn something new every day!

Wow, I am for sure using this method the next time!!

I had this happen, too, solved it.
 

I got the next larger needle, and it worked great. I kept dropping the needle, though, and had a hard time finding a needle with no thread on it.

Pattycakes, I love this technique and I am a hand quilter...I do not tie a knot at beginning but leave a dangle and then go back and quilt from there, or bury thread. Your method has wonderful value in that one doesn't have to thread needles constantly. Wow, you may be sure I will use this in the future

I don't have any answers for you. Just wanted you to know once you get the knack of it, it works really well. Don't give up, maybe take a break from trying it for a while. Good luck.

Kat

Learned this trick using yarn and tapestry needles. Fold the end of the "yarn" over the needle, pinch tightly and slide the needle out, now slide the eye over the pinch. It threads 9 out of 10 times. So when I returned to sewing and started quilting, I thought, well, now that I really can't see the eye hole in the needles, lets try that method. Works for me about 8 out of 10 tries. Thread and sewing needles are much smaller, after all! And both of my sewing machines have the "threader" built in. That took a couple of minutes to figure out, but sure beats trying the limp and soggy routine! Thankfully, the cats never repeat any swear words that may slip, but they do run when I poke myself, so I have to be careful!

Thank you for the link to the spiral eye needles, I might be investing in a small pack, just to give it a shot! I learn more neat stuff on this board!

Luana I had the same proble. It's not you it's the needle. They are not all created equal. I had some singer needles. They were awful. All I got was shredding and broken thread. I bought a pkg of Fons and Porter needles from my LQS. Buy a good brand. I think John James makes them as well. Emily

I was not happy with the results when I tried it either>

Pattycakes - thanks for this. Brilliance! I've got a quilt waiting to have all the threads buried - I'll be trying this. I already use a tapestry or darning needle because they're so much easier to thread, but the loop bit is new to me.

I used nothing but the V needles (25-30 years ago) and they were great. Couldn't find any of my old V needles so bought some Fons and Porter ones. They are the PITS!!! They shred the thread every time. (Made in China, no doubt) They also cost way too much compared to the old ones I used to have that had about 30 or more in a package and were of varying sizes. Just shows what this world is coming to,...make it fast and cheap and charge a bunch for imported junk. Good old "Made in the USA" stuff is almost always better quality. Why can't we go back to manufacturing our own stuff and let the other countries suffer with their junk? Maybe they would learn something if we didn't continue to buy it now days.

I've just tried this, and it's a brilliant method. Really speeds up the dreary job of dealing with all the threads. Thanks very much for posting it.

Another thing you might consider is a nit-picker - you can get them on Amazon or if you are lucky, a quilt shop. They work very nicely. You put the thread in and pull it through - works nicely.