EYE of NEEDLE!
 

Recd the milliners #11 needle as recommended by several sites on hexies.....OMG where is the eye..it is soooo tiny.....I had trouble even threading with silk thread....those crazy wire threaders wouldn't even go thru. I have one of those clover table threaders...forget that too. What kind of needles are you using for piecing.....I must say once I finally got that baby threaded..it went thru that fabric like a warm knife thru butter....and it is a longer needle.....better get thicker glasses for the next threading of the invisible eye!

I use Roxanne Sharps, mostly size 10 for all my hand sewing. I have the Bohin needle threader and it works on even the tiny hole needles.

I read a tip for needle threading. Put lip gloss on your lips, kinda waxes the thread. Tried wetting the eye of the needle instead of thread, but the chap stick works best for me. Don't know if it will work for you, with those tiny needle eyes. Worth a try.

I have a magnifying lamp. Found it at a dollar store for $8.00 with attached light.

Wet the eye, instead of the thread. It goes right in!

I am also one who uses the milliners 11 or 12. I also use the I have the Bohin needle threader. Works so slick!! My MIL saw it and wants one. It will go in her stocking in Dec.

I had to get a magnifying glass to thread my hand sewing needles. I found one that is lighted that hangs on your neck at Nancy's Notions that I love. It's called a Hands Free Lighted Magnifying glass.

I cut the thread on an angle and flatten the tip with my fangs...I mean teeth! Put a piece if white paper behind the needle so there is more contrast. If all that doesn't work,call the grandkid.

i just LOVE the Bohin threader... don't know how i managed before getting one for my travel kit and one for the sewing room!

Excuse the grammar in the above post by me, yikes!

I too pull thread though my lips...but have to be careful if I have lipstick on. If I do, I cut off that end of the thread.

I love my Bohin needle threader and have not found a needle it doesn't work on. I use very fine needles for my handwork that are very difficult to thread otherwise but that Bohin needle threaded is worth every bit I paid for it and more. I think I got mine through Amazon.

I haven't had trouble threading even tiny-eyed needles since I watched the Sharon Schamber basting video. She demonstrates her method of threading a needle, and even though I had read about doing it that way, seeing it done made all the difference.

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

Snip the thread blunt so there are no wild hairs.
hold it in your left hand between your thumb and finger.
Pull down from the bottom until you can only see a small dot.
Hold the needle up to a light and find the eye
Lay the needly eye on the dot - push down gently - close your thumb and finger UP and pull up the thread.
Should work !!

Threadhead. Yes, I learned this technique from a pattern maker years ago. She said bring the needle to the thread. Unless I'm tired this works for me. By the way has anyone tried the straw needles for handwork. I really like them.

I will have to try this. I have the same problem. THANKS

Isn't the milliners needle the same as straw needle?

When I clicked there...it stops where she is ready to thread and begin to baste....refers to her site...not becoming a member....

On the right side of the you tube video is a list of other videos. Click on Part 2.

I went to Walmart site and ordered the bohin needle threader..will pick up at store no S&H that way...thanks for all the tips....tried most of them with my struggle .....now will wait for this new gadget!

Nothing wrong with your grammar, just a few extra words.

About wetting the eye of the needle; wet the back of the eye and the thread seems to pull right through. Just make sure there are no "fuzzies" at the end you want to poke through. Works well for threading sewing machine needle eyes, also.

So much good information on that video - some day I'll try it out -

I grew up using the same method as ThreadHead does, which is the same as the Sharon Schamber video. I find the key to getting it through the eye is to dampen the end, and pinch the end of the thread so it is flat. With this method, I don't even need my glasses or a magnifying glass. If you do happen to have trouble , just cut the end of the thread on an angle, and when you dampen the end, give it a slight twist to create a point, and it should slide right in the eye.

Do you ever wonder how they can make something so small with such a little hole? And then it is strong enough to withstand the pressure of drawing thread through it and sewing without snapping the thread through that bit of metal!

I totally agree .... it is most important to wet (I lick) the back (not the front) of the needle. This seems to make the thread draw into the eye easily. Not sure what the scientific reason is for this (osmosis? no, guess not.) but it sure works. Also holding something white behind the eye does help see the "hole".

Geri B, I'm so sorry about that! It's been awhile since I watched that, and I had forgotten that the threading of the needle would be in part 2 (about 40 seconds in).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_EjBGz5vGQ

***
*** I have a HandyHelper form Harbor Freight.
*** A stand alone magnifying glass with clips for holding things.
*** Works well
***
*** If on sale only $2.99.
***
*** Also great for removing splinters from fingers on yourself.
***

I have a magnifier lens that I used as a graphic designer. Other craft people must have one too....perhaps wood workers.
The is a band that can be adjusted for the head size and a magnifing "glasses" that can be moved in front of your face even over glasses. I use my "headgear" at the sewing station to thread, and at my chair. Helps me so much to thread a needle. Hope this idea helps you..yes, I too nearly fainted at the use of a # 11 needle when I took a handquilting class with Jinnie Beyer. But they really are great when you get used to them.

I use the John James size 11 Big Eye quilting needle. I found them on line. they are small needles and like you said, they go thru the fabric like butter but the eye is larger and not to difficult to thread.

Haha, I used to get annoyed when my Grandmother used to call me to thread her needles, couldn't understand why she couldn't do it herself. Now I understand.

Thanks to all for such good & helpful information!

I use this HeadBand for my sewing too, makes it so much easier to see what I am sewing too, I just ignore the looks on my family's faces when they see me with it on lol.