Eye sight is dimming
 

For the first time in my life I failed to thread the needle in my Bernina. I tried for over an hour and had to admit defeat. So I called my DH and he had no problem threading it. However, he isn't here all of the time; he works part time. How do you folks handle this problem? Do you have a favorite system or perhaps a tool of some sort? I really need your help. Thanks.

I wet the thread and the BACK of the needle. It seems the wet thread is drawn to the needle. Be sure the thread is sharply cut with no whispy ends.

luckily my machine is self threading, other wise I would use a needle threader just like for hand sewing.

Have you had your eyes checked for cataracts?

mltquilt

Use a floor magnifying lamp. It is an essential sewing tool for me. Eye sight can change slowly and then all of sudden you notice something is not right. Be sure and get your eyes checked at least once a year past the age of 50. You may only need readers that you can buy at the pharmacy.

My machine is self threading, too, but I used to use a white card (3x5 index card or smaller) behind the needle and the thread shows up better. If that still doesn't work, increase the lighting and/or use reading glasses.

My Bernina is self threading, and it works great. But the longarm is not, and sometimes it takes a few tries. Even worse are the tiny needles I use for applique. Good light sure helps. I don't think I would have the patience to keep trying for an hour.

You may want to get checked for cataracts. I recently had this simple surgery and what a difference it has made! Wish I had done it sooner. Everything is now in hi def and bright. I had my distance vision corrected and my bifocals has a new Rx on the bottom. So worth it!

I have to agree with all of the above:

Super good lighting

Try using tweezers -- sometimes your fingers can block the lighting

Be sure the thread is trimmed with sharp scissors without any fuzzy strings to make it harder

Use a needle threader...ususally around $1 for 3 of them in a package at Walmart

Using a piece of an index card behind it would give good contrast

Use "cheater" glasses for extra magnification if needed

Eye sight can slowly get worse so please do have your eyes checked.

Give your hubby a big kiss from all of us too for being your threading hero

nicely should be nice
 

Nicely summary of the previous statements.

I use a makeup mirror/magnifier. You can get little ones for super cheap at a dollar store. Sometimes I just am tired and seem to get cross-eyed.LOL! JK. They really are nice. I keep in my tool cache.

The index card is a good thing. My technician puts his little finger behind the needle and I do now.

I would go have my eyes checked, because Im sorry to say it won't get any better.

Use a top stitch ( or whatever it is called). Needle which has a larger hole

An embroidery thread needle also has a larger eye and I find it much easier to thread Top stitch needles will also have a larger eye

This method also works for me. I do put my face down close to the needle when threading because I have double vision and need to be up close to actually see the hole in the needle. Even so, 'spit' method of threading the needle decreased the number of attempts at threading significantly!

That's what I do also, except I just wet the back of the needle eye. If I have a problem with that, I clip on magnifying glasses so that I can see better. The magnifying glasses really help. Also, I have an Ott light on each side of my machine. The extra light helps me. I, too, have a Bernina. My automatic needle threader isn't working now. That's something I'll get repaired when I take the machine in.

I have an old Nechhi needle threader. I know that JoAnn's and Nancy's notions carry something similar for threading machine needles. I used to use it all the time. Since the eye surgeries I don't use it anymore.

My machine has a needle threader but when I didn't have one I would put a white index card behind the needle to make the hole more visible. I also use a pair of reading glasses to thread my longarm

Put something white behind the needle. This always works for me when I'm having trouble. Also, check your lighting. As we age, we need more light to see as well.

I have trouble making my self threader work. I've only been able to make it work one time. GRRRRRR....use a magnifying glass.

Love the white index card idea, thank you!!!

This is how I use to do it before I bought my new machine with the self threader. It really helped.

I have to take my glasses off to thread the machine. I think self-threading is the only feature of a newer machine that I really want. Hand tremors make it difficult!!!

I have this little gadget, which I use if ever the thread is too thick for my auto threader. Although mine isn't the Dritz one, it's the same. You place your thread across the gap in the tool and 'run' it down the back of the machine needle. A little pin pushed the thread through the eye of the needle - voilà! I think it works on the same principle as the ones for hand sewing needles.

It also doubles as a needle holder for when you change needles. :)

My machine has a needle threader and I am so greatful for that!

An hour? You get an award for stick-to-it-ness! If I can't do it in 30 seconds, I call my son for help (for hand needles)--machine has a threader.

When I get really frustrated with threading a needle, I pull the tip of the thread across my lips. It coats the thread with whatever I have on my lips. If I have Chap Stick on, it simply give it a waxy coat that makes the tip of the thread stiffer. But this can be a dangerous thing to do if you have lipstick on! The thread will get coated with lipstick that will stiffen the thread, but you have to make sure you cut the tip of the thread off after the needled is threaded. Otherwise, you'll get lipstick on your fabric if the thread's tip drags on the fabric.

I sometimes have this problem. Take a look at the needles sold by Superior Thread. Instead of round holes they have elongated holes that are much larger even though the needle is the same size. I find they thread much easier.

I also use stronger reading glasses when I sew. Cheap reading glasses from the drugstore work fine. Remember your glasses for reading are based on the length from your eyes to your book. Your sewing machine is much closer to your eyes and you may need stronger glasses for the shorter distance. I have separate glasses for reading, for my computer, for my sewing machine, for driving, etc, all different strengths. Drives my husband nuts trying to find whichever pair of glasses I have lost! Measure the distance from your eyes to the needle then go to the drugstore and try on pairs of different strengths, reading the chart there at the same length you have measured.

I'll go you one better, Janette...I have one strength of drug store readers for sewing during 'normal' hours and another, stronger pair for sewing after 2am. :D

I too am getting cataracts from a medication I had to take for my auto immune disease. The problem is they are not ready for surgery yet. I am beginning to wonder how blind I have to be before they will operate. I have glasses for the computer that I have started wearing when I use the sewing machine lately. Getting old is not fun.

The only thing about drugstore glasses are if your eyes are different, they will not work for you. My eyes are different and I have to have all my glasses made to my prescription. If your eyes are different strengths you will drive yourself crazy and spend a ton of money on glasses that never work right. You will not notice it if you don't wear glasses because your brain compensates for the difference.

I have heard of needles for sewing machines where you slide the thread down the side of the needle and the thread slips into the eye. I have never used them but tried to get my Mom to use them when her eye sight began failing due to cataracts and macular degeneration. She didn't get any, but I think they are available in the Keepsake catalog or maybe Nancy's Notions? Unfortunately, my Mom's eye issues have progressed to the point now where she can't sew any longer, although she still can knit and crochet. And she just got a paper-white Kindle that she is now using to read and likes it because she can enlarge the font. I pray my eyes stay ok as I get older with diabetes and all. I hope you find something that helps you! Keep looking until you do!

I am mainly a looker on the quilting board and very seldom respond. I do enjoy the board and hope to get more involved in it. This one really caught my attention. I have been having health problems this last year. My eyes have been very watery but I was also doing a lot of sneezing and having several allergy and misc. problems. When I went to the eye doctor in October I complained about this and his first question was: How much fish do you eat each week? the second question was: Are you taking fish oil vitamins? He said that if you do not eat fish 3-4 times a week any older person needs to be taking fish oil supplements. So I now am taking them. I immediately told my daughter about this and she commented that her eye doctor told her that a couple of years ago and that she had mentioned it to me. So she has been taking them for the last two years and when she went in for her appointment last year her eyes had improved and were she is back to having 20/20 vision. This is not an automatic cure but may be of some help.

I have been diagnosed with macular degeneration and my sight is getting worse as time goes on. I am madly sewing and quilting against the day when I have to give it up. I had cataract surgery on both eyes and a laser treatment on both eyes and they were a bit better for a while but now I am struggling again. I do have a great lamp and moved my sewing machine into the dining area by the sliding glass doors for natural light and I often have to ask my husband what color fabrics are as I often cannot tell the difference in dark fabrics, blacks, browns, navys, purples, etc. all look pretty much alike to me. Nevertheless I will keep quilting until that door closes and then I will look for a keyhole!

I am 69 and have only 1 eye as I put my right eye out with a pair of shears when I was 16. I was diagnosed at age 33 with macular degeneration. I have used about every item mentioned above at one time or another...I use a combination of...white behind the the needle and looking at the eye from a slight angle I have also noticed natural light does help..So get your eyes checked and keep on stitching!!!!!

I have two more ideas to add....first, I always thread by natural light; it works so much better for me than a lamp. Also, I try to thread needles early in the day when my eyes are less tired and therefore work better. I wear reading glasses (drugstore cheapies) and they work well too; I just don't always have a pair in the craft room when I need them. Trying to teach myself to thread my machine needle by touch for those times.....