I have purchased and they are still available at Keepsake Quilting (I believe) a magnifying glass that you may attach to your sewing machine above the needle. It is made so that it can be adjusted as to where you look through it.

I bought mine several years ago when I was SID (stitching in the ditch) for my grandson's quilt. My lighting was not that good and the magnifyer helped me very much.

There are also, on the market, stronger glasses that you could wear just to thread your needle. I know how frustrating that can be and in the past I have walked away from my machine because I could not get it threaded. (Days before I wore glasses.) Yolanda Wood River

I bought a little needle threader called Perfect Sew. I think I got it from Clothilde catalog. It is a plastic stick about 4 inches long with a wire sticking out at right angles at the end. On the end of the wire is a little hook. You stick the wire through the machine needle from the back (holding stick on left side of machine), loop the thread around the little hook and pull the threader back. It works perfectly and only cost a couple of bucks. I love it.

I have several Janome machines and their threaders are priceless to me. I think it is just a matter of having everything in the right place at the right time. That means having the thread take-up lever at its highest point, laying the thread across the threader and then allowing the threader to do it's work. Sometimes practice helps along with getting the threader broke in to being used. Not all threaders are created equal, but all my Janome's have great threaders.

I'm with Linda B about the machine theader. I find that if I use a piece of bright yellow post it note folded that I can see the needle. I only have one eye so it is tricky. I did buy a hand needle threader by Buhin I believe is the spelling and they are suppose to have a needle threader for machines also but haven't found one yet. If anyone finds one let us know please.

I haven't read through all the responses so this may duplicate someone else's. The BEST needle threader I have found is two fold--Use Superior's titanium top stitch needles as they have a larger hole. I use them for ALL my sewing. Then lick the tip of your finger and rub it against the needle. Be sure the thread is cut at an angle that so the point of the angle is away from the thread source. I usually lick the end of the thread too but that is optional. There is something in your saliva that draws the thread in--It is amazing but it does work. I learned this in a quilting class and have read a number of other times about the process. Sure is worth trying. This works with hand sewing needles as well.

Self threading sewing machines are great as long as you don't jam the needle against the top of your foot because you are trying to zig-zag with the straight stitch foot on the machine. I've quit trying to keep mine in repair, because I seem to be very prone to jamming them out of position.

I too have a self threading machine that I thought was wonderful! It broke; I got it fixed and it hasn't worked since. Plus they tell you your threads and needles have to be just right. So I too am back to the magnifing glass.

Ditto! This is what I've always done so that I can see the needle hole. It makes it much easier to thread by hand.

I do that, too!

try sliding a piece of white paper behind the needle to see the needle hole easier. it does help. i'm having more trouble now and keep forgetting my machine has a needle threader on it!

Try this. I also have a hard time threading my neddle.
I use a peice of white cardboard and put it behind the needle and you can see the hole in the needle. then thread it.
It works every time for me. Love it. Good luck

I never used to think a needle threader was necessary. Then I joined the bifocal club. Now I LOVE my auto threader on the machines I have. Yes, sometimes the thread doesn't catch, but I just make sure I use a "swoop" movement to make sure the thread gets under the little hook.
I use the tip of my stitch ripper to pull the loop through far enough to take with my fingers.
I also cheat when hiding my threads in the quilt. I use the "cheater" needles that you just snap the thread into. They work great!!

4 of my Pfaffs have a needle threader and they work great, for my other machines and serger I use tweezers and a white card behind the needle, works for me~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My threader has never worked for me either! I use a small magnifying glass that I got at a QS and my long surger tweezers works perfect for me every time

I have a needle threader on my bernina and I just found wher it is and got the book out and tried to do it and I cant understand the instructions and pictures. I guess I will take my machine to the quilting guild and ask some one. I did not need it until just recently. My glasses did the trick. Now I need the threader.

I almost bet I am the only one who had the machine's threader removed on purpose. Because of my hands and all the threader kept kitting my fingers and made them bleed! I have an old Necchi sewing machine threader I use if I ever need to use it. Otherwise, I cut the thread and wet the needle and thread the needle. It works for me.

ali

I have three machines with auto threaders. The best one I have ever used on any machine is the one on my Singer Quantum. It works first time every time and that machine is almost 10 years old. My Janome auto threader works when it wants to. The expensive Brother may work just fine if I could figure out how to use it. The dealer didn't know either! It's different then the models she had in her store and she wasn't all that gifted in the how does this machine work category. (her shop went bankrupt.) I use a magnifying gooseneck lamp and it works great for me so far.

Thanks!! Awesome baby is on his way over here to spent the night along with his 4 YO(tomorrow) "big sister"!! I will be on "sugar overload"! :)

I have 2 Janome's and their needle threader works great. One of them broke and the replacement part was
95 cents. My old eyes certainly appreciate it.

Bernina has a needle threader, so easy to use, costs a couple dollars.

I hold my thumbnail behind my needle when threading it instead of holding a piece of white paper. I wear clear polish.

I have sold them to customers, and they have come back for more. Schmetz makes the ones I sell. They are a little more expensive than regular needles, but well worth it.

My older Pfaff has a threader and I use it all the time. My brother has one also, it seems more arkward but I use it. I can't see to thread a hand needle very well.

One of my Elna machines is the easiest one I have to thread. The adapter that it came with that the feet snap on to is painted white right behind the eye of the needle. Certainly helps, just like the piece of white paper.

my machine has a threader and i love it , my sisiters does not but she uses the little wire thinging threader and doesnt seem to have a problem, i would never get a machine that doesnt have one , i guess i got spoiled

I have a Viking Designer 1 and it came with the needle threader on it and I love it couldnt do without it

I have a threader on one of my machines and I love it. On the other 2 I have to thread by hand. A tip that helped me immensely was to hold a piece of white paper behind the needle when threading. That makes the hole SO much easier to see.

I use a bright light and magnifier to thread my needle and that works very well.

I have a machine with a really good threader, but when I am using another machine, I go for the wire loop threader that looks like the threading dental floss. the point is long enough that I can easily get it through the machine needles and grab on in the back. I use them for my serger too. I get them at Clotilde's. The only problem is the wire is so fine I have a hard time not losing them.

I finally bought a clip on magnifier which helps me get the machine's needle threaded in less than a minute. Before, it took me a frustrating 10 minutes!

My new Janome machine has a threader, but I haven't figured it out yet. It will be my first quiestion when I finally go to the dealers to get free lessons.
(By the way, I love Janome!)

A nice lady told me to use bees wax on my thread. Works great.

I know this sounds dumb, but I had read it somewhere awhile back. I'll try to make it clear as mud. Cut the end of the thread so that it is a fresh straight cut, wet it and then (don't laugh) lick your finger and rub it on the front side of the needle. Put the thread up to the hole and it should go in real slick. If I don't do this, I end up standing on my head trying to get the d... thing threaded. Good Luck, Janet

i don't know what kind of machine you have but sometimes the needle threader can be adjusted by your dealer. i had trouble with mine and I just bought a new one for my Baby Lock for $10.00 at my dealer. What a great investment that was. Now it works beutiful again.

I too have an automatic needle threader in my machine and sometimes it just doesn't want to work. I too also have trouble seeing that little hole even when I am wearing my glasses.

Here is a tip of something I do which I have found really quite helpful when threading the needle in my machine myself. I take a piece of either white fabric or white paper and hold it behind the needle. I then find it is much easier to see the "eye" of the needle and so thread her. Hope this helps you.

Maybe1day

I'm exactly the same and the stupid threader on my machine never works.

Lick the thread and then your finger then the needle. It will thread then. My machine threader has to be in a certain position to work. If the one lever is not up, it will not thread right.

I have found that puttting a white piece of paper behind the needle helps me see the hole better. Maybe you could try that. Some machines have white behind the needle, I'm sure that is the reason for it.

My newer machine has a self threader, my other does not and I use the manual needle threader for that one (you put the thread in the notch and slide it down your needle and when it hits the hole it pops the thread through..........works great!

I guess that I'm spoiled. I have a brother machine & I just wind the thread through part of the machine & press a button & the machine finishes the threading, needle included. I just love it. Problem is that I keep that one at home & take another machine to quilt classed that doesn't thread easily.

I use the white paper behind the needle and it works great