Just keep trying and sooner or later, you'll be able to do it. Try it with a little thicker thread and a thin needle at first. That might help. Some threads are very thin. You could also try untwisting the thread a little where you want to put the needle through, but that way you need a little longer piece of thread at the end of where your twist is, maybe a couple of inches or so. If you do it too close to the end, the thread will untwist and will slip out of the knot. Do you have any yarn or crochet thread that you can try it with first? My old eyes are near- sighted if that helps!
Good luck!
Janis