tremors
 

I have tremors in my hands, I'm afraid I will have to give up my sewing. Now having trouble threading needles. Anyone have any ideas so I don't have to stop sewing.

When family or friends come; have them thread a pack of needles on one spool for you. Take them of one at a time.

Threading the needle on your machine? Of course, there are auto threaders now on most new machines. If you can afford to trade up to continue your love of sewing, pls look into perhaps a gently used machine at your local dealer. Sewing has been a love of mine since an 8 yr old child, and it has been my therapy and Godsend since my husband had a stroke. I can steal away to my sewing room and let my mind rest.

There are hand sewing needles that have a little slit on the top so you can thread them by pulling thread in the top instead of through the eye. You can get them anywhere... Walmart, etc. And, you can use those little silver threader things for the machine.

Please don't give up on your quilting or your sewing. Keep on keeping on!! :)

Also- have you discussed this with your doctor? Not being able to sew could severely compromise your mental health. He/she may have something you can take.

There are self threading machine needles. I use them on my machine that does not have a auto threader.
Schmetz makes them.
https://www.joann.com/schmetz-self-t...0/9448895.html.

Also the Bohin hand needle threader is the best I have used. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZpRd5xGpyc

I second this needle threader. I have only had it fail me with heavier embroidery type threads. Oops edited, I just viewed one by one's video and that is the threader I have, the Bohin one.

There is medication to help. (Plus all the aids mentioned here)

I hope you don't have to give up something you love. I watched many of Sharon Schamber's videos on her site (I don't know if it is still up this was a few years ago) and on youtube. She had tremors you could see and she had several masterpiece quilts. Keep thinking of work-arounds like suggested already.

There are simple machine needle threaders available. I got mine from a LQS. A sew & vac store
I, too, have tremors. They are inconsistent & non-treatabIe. I use a 1\4" flange foot on my machine to keep the consistent seam allowance.

If you live where it is legal....try CBD (medical marijuana). Put 5 mg of the extract in a little juice and swig it down...it’ll work within 30 minutes. It’s not addicting,won’t make you feel wonky. Watch the you tube videos on Parkinsons and CBD

I also have hand tremors but maybe not as bad as you do. I find to thread a needle, I loop it and push the loop thru the needle eye. Seems easier than trying to push the end which may or maybe not be frayed. As for sewing on the machine I use feet with a side flange to help me keep it even. I also keep my eye on the fabric at the needle as much as possible as that's where it could go off on you or at least it does for me. I have robotics on my quilt machine as I know my hands will jerk at the wrong time.

this needle threader may seem pricey, but it is the best ever... worth every penny

If your tremor is a "familiar" tremor, or "Essential" tremor, (not Parkinson's) it is genetically inherited and there is medication for it. The essential tremor is faint or absent when the hands are at rest and get worse when you attempt to do something with your hands. (A Parkinson's tremor is the opposite; worst at rest, better when functioning.) The medication for essential tremor is a central nervous system depressant, so any central nervous system depressant will work, including alcoholic beverages. You can also take an herbal supplement called Valerian. Avoid all caffeine, as it makes essential tremors much worse. Essential tremor is what Katharine Hepburn had, but she had it in her head, not her hands (it can occur in either location).

Another vote for the Bohin needle threader. I don't have tremors but am partially blind in one eye so depth perception is a mess. This needle threader works for all sizes needles, I generally use milliners needles and it threads them every time. It does cost a bit more but works so great. I also use one of the Clover threaded needle holders and just thread 10 needles at a time. Good Luck with your issue, don't give up. All kinds of resources to help you.
https://www.amazon.com/Bohin-81980-A...or+hand+sewing

https://www.amazon.com/Clover-625-Do...+needle+holder

Make an appointment with an occupational therapist. They are skilled in working with you to adapt your day to day activities to such difficulties.

What a great idea!! I usually thread 10 at a time, but this makes more sense!

(Oh, I'm talking about hand sewing!)

I have tremors in my left hand, but not interfering with my sewing/quilting. I am hoping it doesn't get worst. Fingers-crossed.

Praying you find a solution to threading your needles, lots of suggestions here.

I just used this in the car yesterday - putting on binding on a road trip.

The Bohin is the one I use. I especially like that it will thread very thin needles.

Thank you all so much. I have seen a dr. she recommned asking other quilters, (you can't be the only one with this problem). Also going to PT. I will try all your suggestions.

If you have trouble with threading your machine needle, here is something I use when my auto threader isn't working.
https://www.joann.com/machine-needle...RoCRNMQAvD_BwE

I have good luck with it.

Leslie

Following this--I teach water wellness classes for those that have arthritis and a couple of the participants have just started using CBD--and we are in KS.

I've order both hand sewing and machine needles that are self threading, a bit different than the ones at Walmart, and they are cheaper than Joannes. I got the machine needles for an older DSM that does not have a self threader. Go to this site and look http://www.spiraleyeneedles.com/ I love them.

I've given your replies to others, no one was aware of these alternatives. yea, quilters.:thumbup:

who says our computer cookies don't follow us around the web?
Speak of essential tremors and what turns up in my news?
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-...trembling-hand

They were mothers plague.

If hand sewing, snip of the end of the thread so you don't have any stray hairs sticking out.
Hold the thread between your finger and thumb, pull it back so that there is only a small dot showing.
Set the eye of the needle on the dot, open the thumb and finger just a tad, press down lightly.
Roll your finger and thumb up. Push on down with the needle. You should have the needle threaded. Works for me.