The Best Way To Thread Sewing Needles | 7 Simple Tips
Threading sewing needles—whether for hand sewing or a machine—can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be!
You’re not alone if you’ve ever struggled to pass the thread through that tiny hole.
In this post I share seven practical tips that will help you thread sewing needles with ease, saving you time and making your projects more enjoyable.
1. Start with a Fresh Cut
One of the easiest ways to make threading a needle easier is to start with a clean cut on your thread.
Over time, thread tends to fray and become fuzzy at the ends, making it more difficult to pass through the needle’s eye.
Simply snip the end of the thread before threading, and it will go through the needle much more easily.
2. Needle Threaders
Needle threaders are a classic tool, and they make threading much easier. You’ve probably seen these little gadgets with a thin wire loop.
Wire Threaders: Simply pass the wire through the eye of the needle, thread your thread through the wire loop, and pull it back through the needle.
Hook Needle Threaders: You can also find hook-style threaders, which work similarly but have a little hook that grabs the thread and pulls it through.
3. Fold the Thread Over the Needle
Another simple trick for hand-sewing is to fold the thread over the needle, creating a loop.
Hold the folded thread tightly and guide the tight loop through the eye of the needle.
This method helps keep the thread together, making it easier to thread the needle in one go.
4. Use a Drop of Water
This tip might sound strange, but it works!
Instead of licking the thread (as many of us are used to doing), try dipping the eye of the needle into a drop of water.
The water helps draw the thread into the needle, making it easier to pass through the eye.
5. Quick-Threading Needles
For both hand and machine sewing, quick-threading needles can be a game-changer.
These needles have a small notch that allows you to slide the thread in without needing to pass it directly through the eye.
They are available for hand sewing and your sewing machine.
7. Sewing Machine Automatic Threaders
Most sewing machines nowadays come with either a manual or automatic threader.
A tip for having these threaders work properly is to make sure your needle is in the most upright position before starting.
This will allow the threader to work properly.
You can adjust the needle’s position by turning the hand wheel on your sewing machine towards you until the needle reaches the highest point.
If your needle isn’t fully in the upright position, the threader hook will not be able to go through the needle hole properly.
I love my sewing machine’s automatic threaders.
Bonus Tips For Threading Sewing Needles
Beware of Gadget Failures:
Not all gadgets deliver as promised.
A thread-pushing gadget I tried once broke on its second use and was more frustrating than helpful.
If you’ve had success with similar tools, share your tips in the comments!
Lighting is Key:
One thing I didn’t mention earlier but is very important is to make sure you have good lighting while you’re sewing.
Good lighting is key when you are threading sewing needles.
Use a task lamp, natural light, or any bright light source to illuminate your workspace.
Proper lighting helps you see the needle and thread clearly, making the process easier.
Sewing Machine Needle Insertion Tool:
Have you ever noticed a little tool that came with your machine that looks like this, and wondered what on earth it was for?
Sometimes it’s attached to a little brush or is just a standalone device with a small hole at one end.
If you don’t have one or can’t find yours, you can get one here.
Here’s how to use it: find the back of your needle (it is the side that is flat) then insert the needle so the flat side is facing to the back into the hole of the tool until it’s snug.
This gadget makes it much easier to place your needle in your machine and ensures it’s properly aligned.
Stick the needle up until it stops, tighten your needle bolt, and pull the tool away—your needle should be perfectly in place!
Have fun sewing!
This keeps the presser foot level and allows the feed dogs to move the fabric through without getting it sucked down into the machine. (I’m sure you’ve experienced it). It is so frustrating.
***I keep many scrap pieces close to my machine in a little pouch on my sewing supply holder.
To avoid this, adjust your stitch length from 2.5 to 3 and gently pull back the threads from the needle and bobbin when you begin stitching. Take a few stitches and let them go.
At the end of a seam, sew to the end of the fabric, maybe one stitch off the fabric, then lift the presser foot, pull the fabric back slightly, flip it over, and align the edge with the needle before continuing to sew. Sew a few inches, then veer quickly off.
