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This "Easy Way to Thread a Needle" Hack Looks Great, But I Can't Get It to Work With Machine Needles
Is it me, or is the trick fugazi?
By Rain Noe - Apr 16
If you regularly use a sewing machine and have declining eyesight, you know that threading that damn needle is the most frustrating part of the process. There are times when I've continued sewing with the wrong-sized needle just because I subconsciously didn't want to insert and thread a new one. And yes, I have this stupid thing below and I hate how junky and inelegant it us.
Enter a caption (optional)So when I heard about this easy way to thread a needle, I was super excited to see the video:
First off he's using a hand sewing needle, not a machine needle, the latter of which has the eye just above the point. But I nevertheless went to my sewing machine bench and tried for ten minutes or so to do this with a #9 needle (a 65, for those of you not in America) and absolutely cannot get this to work. It's also pretty precarious because you have to avoid pricking yourself with the point, since that's the end the eye is on.
Enter a caption (optional)
Enter a caption (optional)I'll try it again with a #18 needle when I have time. In the meantime, if any of you use sewing machines and can get this trick to work, please let me know!
Rain Noe
Rain Noe is a writer and industrial designer based in New York City.
4 Comments
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Lock stitch machine needles are asymmetrical to allow the loop to form. The eye is optimized to reduce friction since every stitch runs a length of thread through it that is long enough for the bobbin can pass through. Hand sewing needles require some friction to hold the thread enough that it only feeds as the stitch is tightened.
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My machine has a built-in gizmo that pulls the thread through, and it's one of the cheapest machines on the market.
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Adora beat me to it. A self-threading machine is
the way to go.Also, there are much better needle threaders than that skimpy thing in the world. This one, for example:http://tinyurl.com/yahgooeq1!Report as spam -
Why don't you just get a self-threading sewing machine?
I never have problem using needle-threaders. Your thread is simply too thick for that needle. In that case rolling wouldn't work any better because it also require the thread to go in double-width. (In the video, notice how long the eye of the needle is compared to the thread.) The easiest fix might be using higher quality but thinner poly-threads like Gutermann. Or buy new needles with longer eyes. If you are wiling to spend the money, a self-threading machine is great.!Report as spam
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Shall we turn this into a regular event, called Nitpick Fridays?
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