We’ve all been there: excited to start a new sewing project, ready to begin, only to get tripped up by the crucial step of threading the needle. If your eyesight isn’t great (like mine!) even seeing the needle and its eye can present a problem to begin with, but they’re so tiny that even those with perfect vision struggle with getting the thread through them sometimes. Fortunately there’s more than one way to skin a cat, and we have a solution – five of them, at that!
According to what we’ve gathered from our readers and around the Internet, here are the five easiest ways to thread a needle. Hopefully this will save you some struggle in the future – straining your eyes over a little needle just isn’t worth it in the end! You can print the graphic out to remind you of these solutions in case you find yourself having trouble on the line, or if your tried-and-true method of needle threading fails you one day. It can never hurt to keep on hand (and hey, if you’ve got any other sewing tips, we’d love to hear them in the comments!)
How to Thread a Needle: 5 Sewing Hacks
1. Spray the thread with hairspray to stiffen it (we mentioned this tip in our 28 Sewing Hacks post!) or wet it with water!
2. Alternatively, wet the needle itself (around the eye) – it should help to draw the thread right through.
3. Cut thread on an angle; it makes it easier to fit it through the eye of the needle in the first place.
4. If you still can’t get it after a few tries, try going through the other side of the needle. One side is supposed to be easier to thread than the other.
5. When all else fails, use a needle threader! 😉 They’re really inexpensive, but they do get lost easily so keep them in one place!
Do you have any other needle threading tips?
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Thank you. If you are trying to thread a sewing machine needle, place a piece of paper or cardboard behind the needle. This make the eye of the needle easier to see.