My Mom, bless her soul, taught me to wet the needle, not the thread. Wetting the thread makes it expand. Thus making it harder to get into the needle hole. Wetting the needle, kind of "grabs and pulls" the thread right thru the hole. Works all the time for me. Not drippy wet, mind you, just, a bit. Sorry, hope that's kinda clear.

I lick my finger and wet the back side of the needle where the hole is and the thread goes right through. I don't know why it works but it threads every time.

Thanks for the tip. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong with the automatic needle threader. Like you sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. So I went to the old fashion method of stab and grab. I'll practice with repositioning the needle.

Off subject with this thread, but on subject with the glasses. If you don't have a Lions Club/local glasses charity available, look into your old stash of glasses. Some may be stylist enough still for children in middle school. Occasionally I'll stop by the middle school to see if there is a child who cannot afford glasses. I'll donate my old frames. Usually parents/teachers will chip in for the office call and the prescription. If you're really lucky the optometrist will wave the office call.

I run mine over my lips with chap stick on them for hand and machine sewing. works like a charm.

Thanks to everyone for so many good tips. I'm just starting to have problems and will see what works best for me.