How To Thread A Needle With A Needle Threader
As we get older, our eyes become a little harder to focus on the finer details of sewing. Like threading a needle.
Which is why learning how to use a needle threader can be great – it’s a nifty little sewing tool that we can use to quickly and effectively thread a needle, whether it’s a sewing machine needle or a hand sewing needle.
In this quick tutorial I’m going to show you how to thread a needle with a needle threader!
I’m going to hold my hands up and admit that (at the time of original writing this post in Spring 2021) I hadn’t needed to use a needle threader myself. My eyes were still able to thread both my sewing machine needle and hand sewing needle too.
But I ordered a needle threader to test one out because my Mum, who used to love sewing, had started to struggle because of the whole threading needle issue. And I had hoped that a needle threader would help her get her sewing mojo back!
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What To Use A Needle Threader For
A needle threader can be used on any needle that has an eye for the thread to go through:
- Beading needle
- Embroidery needle
- Hand sewing needle
- Punch needle
- Sewing machine needle
- Tapestry needle
- Twin needle
Some of the above – like a punch needle! – have bigger eyes than others and probably won’t need a threader but if your eyes do struggle, you still find a needle threader is a valuable tool in your sewing kit!
Steps For Using A Needle Threader
Needle threaders work by inserting a wire threader – almost like a wire loop, but in a geometric diamond shape! – into the needle eye to capture the thread and pull it through.
Here’s a photo tutorial of the process!
Step 1: Guiding The Needle Threader
Start by guiding the wire loop of the needle threader through the eye of the sewing needle.
As the wire loop is more solid than thread, you should find it easier to guide through the needle eye than thread – this is great for people who struggle with shaking hands, as the wire can feel easier to control and guide to the eye of the needle than a piece of string.
Step 2: Insert The Thread
Once you have the threader through the eye, you’re ready for step two. Start by cutting the thread end with sharp scissors to get a nice point.
Then guide the thread through the wire loop. As the loop is significantly bigger than the needle’s eye, it’s a lot easier to guide through.
Step 3: Threading The Needle
Once the sewing thread is a few inches through, you can hold the needle shaft in one hand, and pull the wire hook back out of the needle eye.
As the thread is ‘trapped’ in the wire loop, it is pulled through the eye of your sewing needle and you have a perfectly threaded needle!
The Needle Threader I Use
The best needle threader is the Colonial CNT-1 Needle Threader. It has two sizes of wire, a long handle and caps for each end to protect the wires from damage.
It’s the one I have used in this tutorial and is the only needle threader in my (and my mum’s old) sewing kit.
Needle Threader vs Self Threading Needles
Of course, if you’re hand sewing only, you could just use self threading needles, which have a special ‘groove’ that you guide the thread through.
These work best with thicker threads so when using a standard sewing thread by hand or in your sewing machine, a needle threader is still a better option.
If you don’t know much about sewing needles, I have a few other posts you might like.
Learn about the different types of sewing machine needles which will help you choose the right sewing needle for the project you’re planning to sew.
I have another post on sewing needle sizes – because you do get one needle type in multiple sizes!
And because your needle will break, and you won’t always know why, save and read this guide on why your sewing machine needle keeps breaking!
