Synnove

I'm doing applique with a sharp which has a tiny little eye -- almost so tiny that the thread is too fat to go through it. I've discovered that if I wax the end of the thread with bee's wax, then pinch the thread between my thumb and finger so I can barely see the end of it, then "needle the thread" rather than threading the needle, the wax helps keep the end from fraying and it goes through the eye much easier. Perhaps others have done this, but this is a new discovery for me and I'm happy with how well it works so thought I would share.

ElaineCovid

That's an interesting way to do it! I will have to give it a try! Thanks for sharing!

sewingpup

I recall that my grandmother had a ball of beeswax in her sewing kit and she often would run her thread across the beeswax. and I have heard of other people for bring the needle to the thread. Good ideas are often discovered over and over!

pocoellie

A fellow quilter years ago, said to wet the eye of the needle instead of the thread. If your thread doesn't want to go thru, turn the needle to the other side of the hole and try it again, it's worked every time for me.

ptquilts

I do it that way too, but with spit instead of wax. I remember my MIL being amazed at it, I asked her how she would thread a needle, and she demonstrated the "poke the thread at the needle" method.

Jingle

Just spit on the needle worked for me. I did run thread over the bees wax when I hand sewed to make thread go through fabric easier. As always there is not just one way do to anything.

QuiltE

Related question ... will the same work for embroidery thread?

Why I ask ... I do a lot of hand embroidery. One brand of floss seems to drag through the fabric in comparison to the other.

Sew Girl 2

I thread all my needles with bees wax or spit(only if the wax isn't handy). Then I hold the thread like Synnove said, except I cut the end at a 45 degree angle, Never had a problem threading a needle. I also wipe my needles with tri-flow.
On older sewing machines that don't have auto threading, I wax the end, cut at a 45 angle and Preto, it's threaded. . If the thread is almost as big as the needle, I would go to a larger size. Here is how I check the needle size to thread size.
I thread the needle, if the needle can go up and down easily when you are holding both ends, then the needle size is right. This is true with sewing machine needles and hand needles. Otherwise it will frail the thread.

oksewglad

👋Quilt E...there is a nap to thread...rub your floss across the space above your lips. If it feels like its a little rough you are going against the grain. It should go with the grain as you thread the needle.

Ps. I hope to email you soon...lots going on here.

Sew Girl 2

You should always stitch with the way the thread comes off the scan. That will keep you thread nap going the right way. I have never heard of the lip method, but that is great tip. Thanks.