Threading a Needle

Oh darn! You went to put on your favorite shirt and found a little rip in the seam. Sure, you know all it takes is a needle and thread to close it back up. It’s not a big deal. But let’s face it, you’re not looking forward to threading that needle. Well, hold that thought. We’ve got some tips that can help you safely thread needles with confidence no matter your level of vision.

Like with most tasks, for those with low vision, good lighting can make a big difference. An adjustable light can work wonders to brighten up your sewing area. And if you need a bit of magnification, there are magnifiers that come on a chain that rest on your chest for easy access.

And there are lamps with magnifying lens that let you keep both hands free. When using some magnifiers, you may find you’re holding the needle in an awkward position. And light bouncing off the needle can cause glare. That’s when using your sense of touch comes in handy. Relying more on your sense of touch here allows you to hold things more naturally and find them more easily.

To keep your supplies together and from rolling onto the floor, work over a tray or cookie sheet. Label your colors of threads and keep same colors together in a resealable, see-through bag along with any bobbins. You can also include a card with large print, braille or an audio label you can listen to. Our labeling series has more information on these methods. You should check it out.

Consider using spread eye, big eye, or embroidery needles. For some projects, they may be easier to thread because they have a larger eye. But they aren’t the best for all projects. Next, let’s get down to threading that needle.

There are many options we’ll discuss for this, but no matter which option you choose, your first step is to keep the needle stable and steady by sticking it in a pin cushion, cork, or bar of soap.

Now, pre-threaded needles are the first option we’ll discuss. They can be purchased in several different threaded colors. Or you can ask a family member or friend to pre-thread some for you. Keep them together by color in the same pin cushion, cork or bar of soap and in a resealable, see-through bag. Remember to include a card with large print, braille or an audio label to help you identify the various colors.

Your next option to consider is a dental floss threader. It’s a plastic loop connected to a flexible handle. It's good for threading regular and sewing machine needles. And, it's available from stores that sell dental care products. To thread a needle using a dental floss threader, slide the thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand up the needle until you feel the bulges at the top. The eye of the needle is between these bulges. Now push just the tail or pointed end of the threader through the eye. Then, let the threader hang from the needle.

Pass a few inches of thread through the loop end. To make this part even easier, the thread can be wound a couple times around a toothpick or straight pin with a rounded head. Pass the toothpick through the loop, then unroll the thread from the toothpick or pin. Now it’s time to pull the tail, loop and thread through the eye of the needle.  Then you can pull the thread out of the loop. Voila, a threaded needle.

Another version of this is called a wire loop needle threader. It’s got a small wire loop with a tab handle. You can find these at fabric stores. Repeat the same steps to find the eye of the needle. Then, push the wire loop through it and let it hang from there. Wind your thread around that toothpick or head of a straight pin and pass it through the wire loop. Unroll the thread from the toothpick or pin until it's loose. Then, holding the top of the needle with your non dominant hand, grab the handle of the wire loop and pull it back through the eye of the needle. And…Voila!

Next, let’s talk about easy threading or self-threading needles. These needles have a V-shaped slot in the top that opens into the eye of the needle. To thread it, use your fingernail to find the slot. This will also help you know the direction of the thread. Trace your finger up the needle from the pin cushion or soap to find the top of it more easily. Hold the thread between the thumb and index finger of both hands so your fingers are about one inch apart or less.

Trace up the side of the needle again with the taut thread. When you reach the top, position the thread over the opening in the slot. Holding the thread taut, pull the thread down with both hands until you feel and hear a click. Now, slide the thread through to the length you want. Then, cut it from the spool and knot it.

Check out the handouts and talk with a Learning Expert about other options for threading needles including those for sewing machines. Try out as many options as you want until you find what works best for you. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience, and practice and you’ll get there.