Sometimes it can be tricky to get the thread through the eye of the needle, especially in the evenings with dim light and sleepy eyes. Read on for tips on how to thread a needle in one go.
But with these tricks you might just succeed in one go:
- If necessary, cut the thread ‘diagonally’. It makes the end of the thread slightly thinner, and wetting it reduces the risk of fraying. This only works with beading thread, not fireline.
- Is the fireline a bit too thick? Try flattening the end of the fireline, for example, using pliers, your fingernails, or your teeth. Flattening it makes it easier to thread through the threading needle.
- Grasp the thread as high as possible near the end. This also reduces the risk of fraying. And above all, threading a needle is easier if you hold the tip of the thread between your fingertip, leaving only a small end sticking out. Push the needle onto this and press it further between your fingers. When you now separate your fingers, the needle will be wrapped around the thread.
- Consider a larger needle size. Beading needles start at size 10, and the higher the number, the thinner the needle. The thinner the needle, the more likely it is to break and the harder it is to thread the needle. Sizes 10 and 11 are used most often, and they’re easier to thread than, for example, size 13.
Still struggling? There are two options:
- Take a threader, thanks to the flexible metal you can get the thread through the needle more easily.
- There are also other types of needles, such as the twisted beading needle or the collapsible eye needle. These are very flexible, and the eye is therefore quite spacious. The downside is that the needle itself is also very flexible. This can be a nice way to thread; it just depends on your own preference.
And as with everything, practice makes perfect, eventually it gets easier. 😉 Do you have any tips & tricks to prevent needle & thread frustration?