All great tips! Another thing, not about threading actually but knotting for hand sewing, if you cut your piece twice as long as what you want to work with, then put both ends into eye of needle with loop hanging, when you take your first stitch, go through the loop, and wah-lah it's tied off with no knot! Ya'll all probably already knew this, but just thought I'd put my 2c in too! LOL!