Put a drop of water on your thumb or forefinger. If you are experiencing any issues watching online videos, you can find solutions to any problems by reading our Help page by clicking here. Or you can always try using a little bit of beeswax on the end of your thread. Right now I’m working on a huge post about threading a sewing machine if you don’t have or can’t find a manual. How to Thread a Needle for Hand Embroidery. How to Thread a Needle: Single & Double (FREE), 5. Start in the middle of the bottom of the project. Do NOT pull an end out of the needle. I say both ends because if you set it down, are you really going to know which end you pick up?? I have done that on occasion without even thinking about it. This lustrous thread has a soft, luxurious hand and is most commonly used in whitework, cutwork, openwork, and needle painting. Use a single 2 m strand of thread and create a loop (M). How to Open Slipknots (FREE) 24. Or if you have any other techniques to thread a needle or keep it threaded that you’ve think would be a good resource to add to this post. Yes, you are right! Sometimes that can be a little tricky! And it does, regularly. [1] X Research source Wetting the end of your thread makes it easier to slip through the eye ...Step … Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 4 ● Now, while still pinching the thread, pull the needle down and out of the loop then slowly put that tiny loop through the eye of the needle. How to thread the needle is one thing and then how to keep it threaded is another. Use a laying tool when stitching using multiple strands of floche to keep the stitches smooth and even. Now what? If the ends of the thread are fuzzy or frayed, you can cut them to smoothen the edges and it is much easier to thread the needles. ! Or just do a double stranded thread…won’t come unthreaded. While the thread hangs, tie the other thread to the one that went through the needle. These first two techniques require only a needle and thread. Here’s how it happens: Grab two strands of thread and cut them at about double your forearm length. Catch-stitch Sewing by Hand (FREE) Depending on your project, you may need a single strand of thread or a double. What Length & How to Cut Thread for Hand Sewing (FREE), 6. Threading an embroidery needle is not the most amazing part of the embroidery process but it definitely makes embroidering easier and shows finesse in your finished pieces. You'll need approximately two yards of thread, but again this will depend on how long your want your finished lei to be. Work very carefully and try to make them equal on both sides of the fabric in this case. Add Wool Edging to Punch Needle Project: Take a single strand of DMC floss and thread it through your needle. The #8 thread is not divisible, meaning you can’t divide it up into thinner threads, but that’s ok because it is already the correct size for punching with your 3 strand needle! 2● With your loop still there, gently make it a little bigger and put your needle point through the loop. Unless… you take the following tips and try to remember to use them on your next project! Between the last picture and this one, I grabbed the loop with my non-dominant hand to hold it in place for my dominant hand to direct the needle through it. Holding the needle in your other hand, “poke” the eye of the needle over the thread, then pull the thread through. Knot the end. This blog post is written for the beginner sewer who has had trouble in the past working with a hand sewing needle and threading it. STEP 1: Inserting a Single Sewing Thread Through a Needle 1. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Want to save this to read later? Make sure both ends have a fresh cut, it helps tremendously. social pages: To watch videos in full screen, click on the full screen button on the video player navigation. Hand Sewing Essentials and Tips Intro (FREE), 3. 1 ● Follow the directions for the first method of threading your needle all the way at the top of this post. 2 ● Take your thread and wrap it around the needle, so your non-dominant hand is holding both ends of the thread but up close to where the thread is looped around the needle. 2 ● Hold your needle in your non-dominant hand and the thread in your dominant hand. How to Thread a Needle: Single & Double (FREE) 4. Raise the needle and the thread up to your eye level, about two inches apart. At first, it's generally easiest to grip the needle between the thumb and forefinger of your non-dominant hand. Try to make it move through the needle without losing any plies or bending. 3 ● Pinch the thread up close to where it goes around the needle so that the needle can barely move, you want to create a loop that is the same circumference as your needle. Usually 18 inches if you are going to use it single stranded or a little more like 24-26″ for double stranded. So let me show you some tricks! Pass the ends of the thread through the loop and tighten to form a knot. Take a pair of scissors and cut diagonally through the thread ends, making a point out of the tape instead of a rectangle. I also use DMC 6 strand embroidery floss. . Now That I Have the Thread in the Needle, How do I Keep it Threaded? When sewing any stitch by hand, there is a lot of movement of the needle in and out of the fabric. I’d rather spend my money and use up space on fabric and yarn! Get to the point where you have a small loop in the eye of the needle and there are two strands in the eye. A Ply is a thinner strand of thread/yarn (thin stringy material you want to use as a thread/yarn) that is twisted with other thread/yarn plies to form a stronger end result. That thinner needle likely has a smaller hole, also known as the eye of the needle. You”’ also need a hand sewing needle. It is up to you to decide which you will use, but there are some conventions that sewers tend to follow. When to Use Single or Double Thread (FREE) 5. Step 1, Thread the needle by sliding the thread through the needle’s eye. Center the punch needle project on the top of the felted wool. (C) 2020 - Dogwood Hill Embroidery LLC (the parent company of Stitch Clinic) All Rights Reserved. ● There are so many different types of needles – some with larger eyes, smaller eyes, duller points, sharper points, different shape points. To prevent snagging you should thread your needle with the thread end that comes off the spool and tie the knot on the end you cut. Pinching the thread gives you more control to guide the thread into the eye. I used a floss that matched the wool. Align both ends of the floss to make a double strand of thread. If you are connecting to the internet using a slower connection, you can still view our videos, they will just take longer to load. The same goes for a thicker fabric, thicker thread and thicker needle with a larger eye. And a little spit…. I did a quick search and came up with this link to illustrate what I mean: https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/the-easiest-way-to-thread-a-needle/. Once you’ve picked out the thread for your sewing project, look at several needles and hold the thread up to a needle’s eye. This way the twist of the thread will be working with you not against you. If the eye of your needle is large enough, you can also push the thread through the eye again, looping and securing it better. For most tasks, a single strand of thread will do; pull just 6 inches through the needle and knot the longer side. Pull several inches of each of the strands of thread through the eyes after you thread the needles. Thread one strand into the eye of the needle and the other into the second eye of the needle. I should add it to the post. Delicate projects require delicate thread which require a thinner needle. This takes some practice to remember, just have patience with yourself! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Thank you! Usually 18 inches if you are going to use it single stranded or a little more for double stranded. Keep trying until you get it through. Thread can be used either in a single strand in the stitches, or held doubled for more strength. You know the ones, those flimsy, silver metal thingys with the metal loop. This moisture helps the threads stick to each other, making them want to stay closer together to go through the eye of the needle. Thank you. Thread your needle with the two cut ends and bring the needle up through the back of the Aida and back down again to create a diagonal stitch (N, reverse view). Each strand is the same size as one strand of Cosmo floss of the 6-stranded variety – they are both “Cotton 30.” Cosmo also produces “No. Or there are larger, more involved inventions that do the same but in a different way and likely last longer because those flimsy, silver metal threaders tend to break. (single strand -This is very important for the subtle shading effect and fine work). I really love teaching the absolute beginner and giving them the confidence to try new things and explore more difficult projects. This will help to keep the strands secure. You can’t see anything. According to experts, how you thread your needle, decides how smoothly you are going to finish your project. Stop right here, do not pull an end through the eye of the needle like you did when threading it. The most common of these is for sewing buttons on, always use a double strand of thread. Threading can be done with single or double thread. try one of these methods the next time you sew or embroider. 4. I have had some success putting the needle back through the hole it came out of, but that rarely works. 10 of 11. This sounds like a silly post topic. The most common of these is for sewing buttons on, always use a double strand of thread. When your needle is threaded normally, and you make a mistake, you can always take the needle off and undo your stitches. Getting on with it… These first two techniques require only a needle and thread. Hi! It would be helpful to have a needle with a slightly larger eye while you are practising this method for threading a needle, but once you get the hang of it you can do it with just about any needle. If you are experiencing issues, My name is Marissa and I am a compulsive weeder. 3 ● Pull the ‘loop’ down towards the end of the needle, creating a teeny, tiny knot just above the eye of the needle, but on the thread itself. Insert each strand through the eye of a needle. Let’s start by understanding how to thread an embroidery needle … Here are my favorite sewing things part one and part two, if you are feeling crafty and don’t know where to begin with curating your studio space (kitchen table, guest room, basement, wherever you can fit it in and have fun with it!! If this doesn’t work with your fabric, try the method above. Using this method will trap your needle on the thread, and you’ll only be able to get it off if you cut the thread. Nothing special. It can feel frustrating to get a little piece of thread through the little eye of the needle. For example, embroidery floss has six plies, it has six thinner strands of thread twisted together to form the thicker floss. Cut the end of the thread off with a sharp pair of scissors to create a point that will be easier to thread through the needle The best knot for both uses the same protocol. Some over-dyed floss will feel stiff and not flow well through your needle. Thread your needle the way you normally would. Choose a needle that can accommodate your thread’s thickness. Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). Adding the “needling the thread” method might help someone. I had plenty of handheld and long neck serger needle threaders in my stash and couldn't figure out how to thread my needle on sewing machine with the long neck threader, but you helped me with that, thanks. you can also call us free: Put your wet finger near the side of a hand-held needle where the thread should come through. Also some tips to keep your thread in the needle, helping all levels of sewers. When sewing with a single strand, knot only one end of the thread. Hold the thread in one hand and the needle in the other. Try some magic by manipulating the thread through the eye of the needle using water. Why Do Single Threads Tangle Sometimes (FREE) 8. thread the needle with a single thread; make a knot at the end of the tread; pin 2 pieces of felt together with sewing pins; start making stitches by passing the needle in and out repeatedly. Floche is a size 16 mercerized, single-strand embroidery thread made from long-staple Egyptian cotton. Carefully slide the end of the thread through the eye of the needle and pull the thread through so it doesn’t fall back out. In this lesson, I'll teach you both ways to thread a needle and when you should use each of these methods. Try these down and dirty needle threading techniques: Pinch and Poke – Cut a clean end of thread and pinch it between your thumb and forefinger, leaving only a tiny bit exposed. (Is that a real word?). One of the first steps in hand sewing is threading the needle. If I’m sewing with one strand of thread I tend to measure a length of thread that’s about the same length as my arm. 1-888-889-7544. We are not going to talk about that here, let’s save that for another time. What Length & How to Cut Thread for Hand Sewing (FREE) 6. (The gauge will be cut at 3/8" and 1/2"). which I separate in half into 3 strands of floss. Take a piece of tape, stick the thread to one half and fold the other half of the tape over itself to enclose the thread ends. You can try this trick for multiple threads I learned recently. It is just like doing the moisture thing with your mouth, but it is a little ‘sturdier’ to help keep the thread straight and plies together when the thread goes through the eye of the needle. Do this for all needles. For a double strand, knot both … I didn’t take a photo of this, my nail polish was looking rather bad after a few minutes of gardening! Loop the needle through the hoop (O, reverse view), securing the thread to begin stitching (P, reverse view). Let me know if you have any questions. You will need to take many embroidery needles. Get sewing and mending! Again, no nail polish so I had to make do! Step 1. Fractional stitches. With thread knotted, needle threaded and tail of the thread pulled down about halfway towards the knot, take the first stitch. In hand sewing, there are two ways to thread a needle - double threaded and single threaded. 3-Strand Needle: The 3-strand needle is made to take two or three strands of floss, size 8 Perle' Cotton or " Petite" Alpaca. Tug and hold the floss down at the bottom of the eye of your needle; Loop the end of the floss around; In the same direction as before, re-thread the needle by passing the floss through the eye of the needle a second time and pull it taut; Be certain not to make a knot or you won't be able pull the needle through the fabric. I have enough sewing and knitting paraphanalia, I don’t want to buy anything extra. I do plan on adding more to it. You could also use a contrasting color of floss. Cut a strand of thread long enough for your specific project using sharp scissors so the end doesn’t fray. You might also consider adding different thread knotting methods – both for starting and ending your sewing. That tiny little knot will help you so much! Try not to pull the thread very hard. Pin to your sewing Pinterest Board! Keep your finger close to the eye of the needle with enough room for the thread to maneuver through. STEP 2: Hold the needle in your right hand and place the eye of the needle underneath the thread in your left hand. Pull one end through and you have a threaded needle! 3 ● Slowly move the wet thread end towards the eye of the needle. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Make sure both ends have a fresh cut, it really does help! For heavy-duty jobs, like buttons, pull the thread until the ends meet; knot together to form a double thread. When using very thin thread or very slippery thread, such as silk, you can use this next trick to keep the thread in your needle all the time. Rather than threading the needle, try needling the thread. It is what I still do, only because of habit… and one of the easiest, again a technique that needs only needle and thread. Now onto the technique that grandmothers and mothers taught way back when. Our video lessons are best viewed through a high speed internet connection. I came to this method on my own over 50 years ago, and it has worked very well for me. Connect with our When to Use Single or Double Thread (FREE), 1. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. 1 ● Cut a fresh piece of thread. Fold the strand in half, and thread the loop end through the eye of your needle. Pause here. Don’t keep losing your tail…. This method, handed down through generations, takes a little bit of patience and practice, but before you know it you will be tying a knot with your eyes closed. It will secure the strands in place. Hi, I'm Marissa and I love teaching others how to knit and sew. I am trying to help people who have no previous knowledge. When you start stitching, secure the tail end under the first few stitches. 1 ● Cut a fresh piece of thread. My name is Marissa and I am a compulsive weeder. I'll also share some tips and tricks for threading the needle. Keep the loop intact with both ends of the thread still going through the eye of the needle. Use a magnifying glass and bright light if you have to, don’t be vain, doesn’t matter. Thread (and yarn) normally has a couple to many plies to it. This works for a larger eyed needle. 30 Thread” for punchneedle – it comes in 88 meter spools, in 27 colors, and it, too, is made of 2 strands of cotton 30. Thread 1 strand through 1 needle’s eye and the other strand through the other needle’s eye. Some things to keep in mind: ● Make sure your needle and thread are well paired. Please consider signing up to receive the newest posts via email. When you pull the needle out of the fabric, hold the needle at the ‘bottom’, opposite of the pointed end (of course), where the thread is going through the eye. It can’t go anywhere while your fingers are holding it into place. It should still be thin enough to go through your fabric. Tying Knots: Single and Double Threads (FREE), 7. Now grab one of the ends and pass it through the needle. I am using a typical all-purpose sewing thread and a needle I found in a needle set. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Here is an illustration. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. I like recommending things that require very few extras. Thread the needle. It is up to you to decide which you will use, but there are some conventions that sewers tend to follow. STEP 1: Hold the thread in your left hand so that about 1/2" is showing between your index finger and thumb. The 1-strand needle is made to take only one strand of embroidery floss, size 12 Perle' Cotton or fine metallic thread. DMC-USA.com. Thread your needle with a SINGLE strand of embroidery thread. Learn how your comment data is processed. Hold the thread comfortably between the thumb and forefinger of your dominant hand. This should work if the thread is well suited to the needle and the project fabric. STEP 3: Move the needle up, thus bringing your fingers together so that you are holding the thread and the needle between your finger and thumb. I didn’t take a photo of me pinching it. Tying Knots: Single and Double Threads (FREE) 7. But don’t be fooled, threading the needle can sometimes be the most annoying bit about hand sewing (and machine sewing if you do not have an automatic needle threader). The more colours you can use in the space available, the better the effect. Pass the thread through the eye of the needle, double it and tie a knot at the end. My automatic needle threader on sewing machine is off track and I'm not in the mood to locate online how to fix/correct it today. Thank you for bringing it to my attention and for reading Stitch Clinic! This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. I’m just pinching the thread so it doesn’t go anywhere, use your imagination to see it. What are the Differences between Knit, Woven and Nonwoven Fabrics. There are needle threaders that come with most basic sewing kits. Why Do Single Threads Tangle Sometimes (FREE). If neither of those techniques work for you, we can move on to other options that rely on other tools/tricks. Thank you so much for your referrals. 3. How to Make a Table Runner Out of a Table Cloth – for Everyday or the Holidays, https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/the-easiest-way-to-thread-a-needle/. If you hold it there whenever you are pulling the thread taut, the thread will not pull out. Loop it and enter the eye from the same direction you did for the first time. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Pull each strands several inches away into the eyes after threading the needles. This threading technique has several benefits. ), Your post was very good and very well illustrated! If you are not paying attention to the amount of thread remaining on your needle, it can easily slip out of the eye. It should go in easily. Novelty Threads . If you don’t get it the first time, try again. Use that thin point to go through the eye of the needle and you should be able to pull it through easily! Lick the last inch of the thread, Yes, I said lick. Let’s go over the various ways to thread and keep our needles threaded to keep on sewing! Glad I found your website and have already referred friends to it! Here is another way to save this for later, use this Pinterest Pin to save this information for later, you’re going to want to check it until you have it memorized. ● Thread can be used either in a single strand in the stitches, or held doubled for more strength. If it bends, wet it in your mouth to straighten it and try again.