Try placing a white card or piece of paper behind your needle. White nail polish works really well on the "post" behind the sewing machine needle. Nanny

Don't lick the thread that just makes it swell and plump up making it harder to get it to go through the eye. I usually mash the thread end flat between my thumb and finger and then "stab" the eye lol.
HTH
;0)

Lick (wet) the eye of the needle, NOT the thread. The moisture will pull the dry thread thru.

And to answer your question..... just a couple of hours ago. I'm binding a quilt & about to return to the project.

I did the mending this afternoon... and I always lick the thread. Only way I can get it through the eye...

I threaded the needle on my sewing machine this afternoon does that count? I sewed binding on a quilt also. Tomorrow I will be threading a sewing needle. I couldn't find any tonight and had to go buy a pack! Grrrr I made sure I bought needles with big eyes!

:) funny you ask, I threaded a needle around 10 this morning. Sewed on a patch, that I got in Colorado. :)

Moni

Try another needle, one with a bigger eye. Or do it in the light of day. Natural daylight is really the best. No need to go to the airport. :-)

I learned about licking the needle eye instead of the thread from my sewing teacher long ago.
I have a little threader thingy I love to use.
And I am sorry, Mama, I used to laugh at you when you asked me to thread your needles. LOL

I did some mending earlier today, but the needle was already threaded! I have found that it's much easier to thread my needles if I take them outside. Much better lighting!!!

The last time I threaded a needle was 3 days ago to replace a button and repair a shirt pocket.

If I can't thread a needle, I get a needle with a bigger eye. A freshly snipped thread end is easier to thread than one that has been handled a bit - the end splays out and will not fit together again. The sissors must be sharp to dress the thread end. If the sissor is dull, it will pull the thread end and cause splaying.

On my bad days, I wear a magnifier. The one I like is "OptiVisor". Its the one I use when faceting gems. It can be used over prescription eye glasses. If I've had too much caffeine, I may steady my hands by resting my wrists on a surface - that helps to take the jiggle out of my hand motion. In my youth, I had no such problems, but as I age, certain medications and caffeine gives me trouble. Failing eyes do not help either.

If I know that I am going to be doing fine work, I will forego caffeine that morning until after the chore is done.

Before I retired, I applied strain gages on occasion. This required a steady hand when making very delciate solder connections. I found that I did my best work when I ommitted coffee on those days. Some of that work was performed under a magnifier.

Some time last year, I think - I haven't used a needle for some time.

Many of my needles had small eyes and I think that my threader didn't want to work with them.

I think that my needles' eyes have been shrinking in the last while.

ole joyful

I thread needles every day, either for hand sewing or changing the thread on the sewing machine. I lick the end of the thread and pull it between my lips, which almost always have a coating of "lip-loppy" on them, Blistex or Chap-Ice, that tiny bit of wax stiffens the thread and makes it slide into the eye so easily. Beeswax would probably do the same thing.

They do make needles that you can pull/snap the thread down into the eye that you can buy, but I don't like them because if you're not careful, you can jam the top of the needle into your finger because it's shaped like a V and has two little dull points and that hurts!

Someone is also making needles that thread from the side, but they're handmade/machined and quite expensive, about $5 each. They carve a groove into the side of the eye in a maze-design so you twist and turn the needle and the thread slips in but won't slip out easily.

Good light IS crucial, Trin! Good luck!

Last Sunday--when I was making a housewarming gift for a friend (I only sew on the weekends, so I'll be back at it tomorrow evening, probably--have a few more gifts to make).

I've threaded needles by licking the thread, and by squishing the thread between thumb and forfinger--just depends upon my mood. Never licked the needle, don't think I ever would. The end of the thread gets thrown away with every use so you never have to relick it but you keep the needle, sometimes share them with others--yuck.

Had a friend who had trouble threading needles for years. She finally broke down and got a pair of glasses with progressive lenses. It was so funny to see her absolute delight in being able to easily thread needles then. I know, myself, that when it gets to be time for a new prescription, I find needles more of a challenge (although I can usually thread them by 'feel' if necessary. And when I do get those new glasses, it makes all the difference in the world in doing fine work like needle threading. Might be something to consider? I always figure if I'm having a hard time seeing to thread a needle, there are probably plenty of other things I'm missing out on, too.

In about 15 minutes- I need to sew some loose buttons on a blouse before I lose them.

Last week DH was sewing a button on his shirt. Both of us had trouble threading the needle! He went to use the needle-threader thing (the thin wire loop) and it broke. We finally got it threaded then went on a hunt to the dollar stores to find a needle threader. Couldn't get one.
So still looking. I don't want to have to buy a package of a bunch of odds and ends and thread for $5 that might have a needle threader in it, but may have to.

Will definitely try the "licking the needle" trick.

And to think when I was a kid, I used to laugh (not mean) when my grandmother asked me to thread it for her.

Just yesterday, I threaded a needle to sew my Grandson's shirt - took a few times and my reading glasses, but I 'got 'er done'! LOL

Just yesterday as a matter of fact-had to mend a seam that had come out after only two washing. I did however use a needle threading thingy. I don't even try without it anymore.
Good Luck!!!

If you cut your thread at an angle it will go into the eye much easier.

2:00 P.M. this afternoon.

Wet the needle...if you have issues with putting it in your mouth, put saliva on your finger & apply to needle eye.

It's been nearly 60 years since my hard nosed Home Ec teacher watched like a hawk to see if we threaded with end cut from closest to spool...if not, she'd make us un-thread it and "do it properly!" :-)

Suzi who could barely see a needle before cataract surgery.

About a week ago, when I had to sew a button on.

I make a loop at the end of the thread, flatten it with my fingers, and then pass the loop through the eye.

Passing the doubled thread through the loop makes it steadier, instead of "floppy".

I didn't read all the responses...so I don't know if anyone gave you this tip...

To thread my sewing maching needle (which I use to sew on my buttons) I hold a piece of white paper behind the needle and it makes it sooo much easier to see the hole.

I'm sure it would work to fold a piece of white cardstock so it would stand up and hold the needle in front of it as you try to thread it.

good luck

patti

At about 10:30 pm last night I got the needle threaded....dumb luck really. I had poked and prodded, and finally got the darn thing through. I wasted no time sewing the button on his pants before I lost my timing.
So all is well, but I think I will go on a search for needles with a large eye. The one I was threading was for quilting, and they are tiny.
I liked the suggestions of putting a white background behind the needle best. I would have never thought of that.
I hate getting old and asking for help, but it is what it is......

Trin

A couple of weeks ago I had to thread a needle with pearle thread to tie a quilt. I need to get needles with larger eyes.

Just several days ago when I was making purse sized tissue holders I was threading my sewing machine needle. Bright light by machine helps. It amazes my daughter to watch me, at almost age 70, thread hand or sewing machine needles without wearing glasses....but don't ask me to read a street sign 2 blocks away. LOL

Not in awhile. When I do I have a hard time.