I have tried and tried to thread one of these suckers, but the eye is so small that my thread frays as I try to stick it through.

I've tried different threads, not just handquilting thread. Nothing goes thru this hole.

wet the needle

Don't wet your thread, try licking the eye of the needle. When you put your thread up to the eye the saliva will pull the thread right on through.

That's one tip I have never heard before. I will definitely be giving it a try - thanks :-)

I use a needle threader with mine.

Cut your thread diagonally, not even. Hold the thread very short between your left hand thumb and forefinger so you barely see the thread's end and guide the needle's eye with your right hand over the thread. It's much easier to control the needle than the thread.

I put on some chapstick and pull the thread through my lips. It gives the thread some body and usually works the first time.

which needle threader do you use? I find that I can get a threader through the small eyes of a John James needles but can't pull it back through the eye with thread -- I always break the needle threader. I've tried many and none that I've used work. Thanks!

I think I would invest in some different needles!!! To me that would be a waste of my time.

I use the cheapie tin needle threader. Maybe you are pulling too hard?

try 100 wt threads...the silks come in 100 wt...much finer thread, easily goes through those tiny needle eyes. there is 100 wt cotton's, poly, rayon...you should be able to find the colors you need in a finer thread. last spool of thread i bought (at Joannes) that said...for hand quilting was so thick!...it was string not thread...
i usually use 40-50 wt threads for regular sewing and 80-100 wt for all hand work.
and wetting the needle really works well. i use that techinique all the time

I'll try these tips tonight when I get back to sewing. I have tons of old packets of needles that were in my grandmothers sewing cabinet, and they all have needle threaders but I don't know how to use them. They are made of something like heavy foil, with a wire loop at end. They confound me.

Renee,
You squeeze the wire loop through the eye of the needle. Then you place the thread in the loop and gently draw the loop back through the needle. The thread will come back and the needle will be threaded.

Lots of new ways for me to try!! Like the one about wetting needle,..

Here's the one that Missouri Quilt Company uses. I watched her use it on one of her binding tutorials on YouTube.

http://www.missouriquiltco.com/catal...lt/?q=threader

Thank you for the information. I'll checkthis out.