Perhaps your turned stitches happen because when you insert your needle after pulling the thread through, it isn't perfectly in line with the last stitches. That has happened to me. I have corrected it by being super vigilant about getting the needle inserted right for that first stitch each time. It slowed me down for a little while, but now I don't even think about it. I also found that the Hiroshime tulip betweens needles help my stitches. I can use a size 12 and have no trouble threading. These needles are more expensive, but are hand made, super sharp, glide through the fabric, are hard and seldom bend. the eye is made to be threaded from either side. It usually threads for me the first try. Someone on this board recommended them. I could only find them on Amazon and I ordered there, so worth it.