Which end of thread?
 

Hi all,

I have a question about which end of the thread should be threaded into the eye of the needle. Years ago I took a hand quilting class and was taught to use the freshly cut end of the thread through the eye. I was just watching a class on needle turn applique and the teacher says that she threads the needle while the thread is still on the spool, opposite of what I learned in the hand quilting class. So that leads me wondering which is the correct way to thread the needle, freshly cut end or end that is already on the spool?

Thanks!
Victoria

Hmm! I thread while the thread is still on the spool. Never really thought about it.

I learned to have the thread "grain" to be smooth as you go through material. Take a piece of thread and run it through your fingers both ways, you can feel the rough and smooth of the grain. The smooth should be in the length as you sew. That also goes with the off the spool method, or they say, that the thread is wound that way. My problem is as I work I loos track of what I am doing so the finger method works better for me.

I asked this question of an owner of a thread co. He said it didn't make any difference.

I find that the freshly cut thread, as it comes off the spool, is the easiest to thread. The other end seems to fray out, depending on the thread of course. I also believe that if you are hand sewing (quilting, binding, whatever) that the thread does not twist up as much if you keep that thread in the correct direction as it goes through the fabric over and over (the direction that it came off the spool). Therefore, as soon as I thread a needle I put a knot on the trailing end so I know what the leading end is. If I don't need the knot, I just cut it off as necessary.

On the other hand, whatever is easiest to thread and sew with is what is best.

I hope this helps.

Aileen

I think the freshly cut end reason ... is just because sometimes the end becomes a little frayed. That too, might be something that might vary from one brand/weight/type of thread to the other.

And too, sometimes when working with the freshly cut end, and I've had problems threading it, it will have frayed and need a new cut to get it threaded.

That being said ... lots of times I have threaded successfully from the old cut.
Honestly, I never think of which end I thread ..........


In the end, I don;t think it really matters what end you thread ... just do it, and enjoy the project you are working on! :)

The discrepency is probably because hand quilting threads are apt have a final S-twist (left twist) while machine quilting, embroidery and all-purpose sewing threads mostly have a final Z-twist (right twist). When threading a needle from the bobbin, however, remember the ends are reversed.

The foolproof way to decide is with the 'grain' method mentioned earlier. As long as the nap runs needle to knot, you'll have fewer tangles with less fraying and breaking of the thread.

I've learned to moisten the needle instead of the thread! Works for me.

I have a little story about this subject. A few years ago I was with a group of quilters and garment makers who had been invited to visit a thread manufacturer in Germany. Various heads of departments gave their speech about the manufacturing process. I was itchy to ask the question about which end to thread the needle. So I finally got to ask. His answer was " makes no difference". One in our party was a very high profile quilter, teacher, Internet star etc. when we herd his answer she blurted out. " you just took a lot of my expertise away from me"

If you want to thread off the spool, there's nothing stopping you from snipping a quarter-inch off the end before threading, giving you both a fresh cut, and an off-the-spool threading.

it's not which end is threaded through.. after threading, either end could be knotted so that would be the difference. i knot the end that came off the spool last.

I thread with the end that was last cut off the spool. I leave a short tail once threaded through the eye then proceed to pull the desired length from the spool and snip. Knot that end. Don't usually have any issues regardless of thread brand/type. I do find, when hand quilting, using a thread condition like Thread Heaven, helps tremendously. Not so much on regular sewing thread though.

The old way of manufacturing thread it made a difference. Now all threads are made the same way, it makes no difference. It's an out of date sewing need to know tip.

I just bought an embroidery book which says zip about the direction but insists you should lick the eye of the needle because the moisture will draw the thread through.

Who knew there was so much to know about how to thread a needle...... I just use that nifty needle threader by clover but don't pay much attention to which end goes through the eye ..... works for me.

Funny story. Good to know an answer from the source.

Someone told me it was the NEEDLE that had different sides-

Here's the quote:
Here are a few tips to thread a needle:
1. Stretch the thread between your hands to flatten the thread and remove stretch and then use a sharp scissor to make a clean angled cut on the end of the thread.
2. Moisten the tip of the thread (usually by licking it). You can also try moistening the eye of the needle.
3. Flatten the tread tip. Some people do so between their teeth, others use their thumb and index finger.
4. Hold the thread between the thumb and index fingertip of your dominant hand with only a small amount of tread visible (about 1/8”) and the flat side vertical.
5. Hold the needle with the other hand so the eye is turned toward you and you can see into the eye.
6. Slide the tip of the thread into the eye of the needle. Or slide the needle onto the thread. Try it both ways and see which works better for you. A white background helps.
You may find beading needles a little easier to thread than sharps, because the longer needle also has a slightly longer eye. If you do find threading needles difficult to master, there is an ultrafine needle-threading tool available that works with needles up to size 13 and thin threads. Regular needle threaders are too large. Keep practicing and it will get easier.
More Tips:

• Why is the needle sometimes easier to thread from one side than from the other? It is a trade secret that needles have two different sides. The eye of the needle is created by stamping a hole through the needle shaft. Even in the best English-made steel needles, this results in a hole that is smoother on one side than the other. So if you are having trouble, flip it over and try the other side.

and the link
http://beautyinthebead.com/how-to-he...ading-needles/

It makes some sense as machine needles can only go in one way, so one side wouldn't have to be as finished as another unless you use round needles.

The other trick is an old saying when you are trying to throw a rock through a small area:
Mention the Minister.

Do you suppose that man actually did any sewing with his thread???? Using it threaded right sure cuts down on the knots when you are hand sewing. My "expert opinion" is do what works for you. I do put the thread through my hand sewing needle as it comes off the spool which is how you use it when you are threading a sewing machine.

I thread from the spool. I have never been advised to do otherwise.

The owner of YLI told me the same thing.

I was taught to only use an 18inch length of thread for hand sewing, using more it twists and knots.
Thread needle by licking needle don't wet the thread as this makes it bigger as it absorbs the moisture.
Thread from the first end as it comes from the spool.
Cut on a diagonal .

I have done it both ways and it just did not seem to make any difference.

very funny story sometime its just one persons opinion and they believe ther is no other way

Ok, this thread made me stop and think. which way is easier? So, I conducted a personal experiment. I usually use the thread off the bobbin to use it up, but here it is recommended to use it off the spool. So this is what I did: first, I took of a length of thread from the spool and ran my fingers over it, up and down. What I found was that one way was not as smooth as the other. Then I did the same with thread from the bobbin. Of course, it ran the opposite way. My conclusion: there is a right and wrong side to the thread (I didn't know that before). Then I pulled off a piece from the spool and threaded it through the needle with the end I cut off being the end that I knotted. I sewed a small binding piece with that and the stitches laid flat and smooth, no tangling, either. Then I did the same, threading the needle the other way. The thread knotted and tangled on itself more and my stitches did not seem so flat. My conclusion: it made no difference which end of the thread goes through the needle, but it does make a difference as to which end you knot. I also tried the different ways of wetting the end and found that, for me, wettng the thread still works better than wetting the needle. That's not to say there's only one way to do this, but only what worked better for me.

I was always told use for hand sewing same as you would for machine sewing as that is the way the thread was made to be used now when hand sewing bindings or whatever I can cut long pieces and has sure eliminated knots and tangles

I was taught to thread the cut end. I was told it will not tangle.

So..which end of the thread goes into the needle the smoothest?...that would be my choice....

Sew many helpful hints!

Thread needle with end that comes off the spool....'knot' the other end.

I have read in many books that you want to thread your needle the way it goes on the spool. Which means you thread your needle while it is still on the spool, not the end cut.

I don't care which end I knot or thread first and don't want to care. The only time I have knots and tangles when handsewing is if I try to sew with a long length a thread. I use 12"- 15" lengths which work for me. Silk thread I use shorter lengths about 10".

Instead of moistening the thread, try moistening the eye of the needle. Thread will slip right in. Learned this from a thread company at a quilt show (?Superior?).

I thread while on the spool. Sometimes I will cut the thread if the end looks ragged - I guess this is the best of both - on spool and freshly cut. LOL

Anita

I really appreciate how earnestly all of you have dealt with this question. However, I read the original post to a friend who is going through a really bad time right now and she laughed for the first time in days. My answer to this question is the same one my daddy gave me about most things. "Use a little sense. Do whatever works the best for you and don't major in minors." froggyintexas

I once was told to thread the needle from the spool, put a knot in that end and then pull enough off the spool to use. As you can see, I'm just trying to confuse the issue!

I knot the end I cut from the spool for hand sewing. I use a needle threader........ I don't worry about threading the needle by hand.