Managing my needle's thread question
09-12-2015, 09:49 AM
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: WHERE THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES
Posts: 9,256
I was watching a sewing show one time about hand sewing. It may even have been on Alex Anderson's show. But they said when threading a hand sewing needle, thread the needle before you cut the thread off the spool. That way you will ALWAYS thread the needle in the right direction. There is a direction to the way thread is wound, I assume this applies mainly to thread meant for hand quilting. I tried this when trying some needle-turn, and by golly it worked. I have never forgotten that rule
simple enough to remember !!!!!!!
09-12-2015, 10:03 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 1,987
Before I knot my ends I hold the needle up and let the thread untangle before I knot it. But I thread my needle in a strange way and never have any problem with twisting. Thread both ends of the thread through the eye and pull both ends through the loop on the other side. This is called a "Lark's Head" Knot the ends and sew.
09-12-2015, 10:51 AM
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,140
I thread my needle before cutting the thread so I make sure I'm loading it the right way. Also, I find beeswax helps & as others have mentioned, keep it about the length of your hand to your elbow. Finally, I keep an eye on my thread as I'm working. Sometimes when I'm working on a very curvy piece, I will unintentionally twist my needle as I'm shifting the fabric to get a better grip. If I notice that happening, I grab the thread going into the fabric & gently untwist the other end (sometimes just letting it hand down will prod it to untwist itself). That usually only happens when I've chosen a longer piece of thread for some reason.
09-12-2015, 02:10 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Beautiful Oregon
Posts: 320
I put a drop of "Fray Check" on my index finger, then run the thread through my thumb and finger. It works quite well. It is a good way to stiffen the thread before you try to stick it through the eye of the needle too.
09-12-2015, 02:32 PM
#28
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
Actually, it's not. Thread is wound directionally. If you load the needle from the end that comes off the spool, then the twist of the thread goes WITH the direction of the pull. If you load it from the other end, then the twist of the thread goes AGAINST the pull - think of it like quills on a porcupine or scales on a fish.
09-12-2015, 07:37 PM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
Before I knot my ends I hold the needle up and let the thread untangle before I knot it. But I thread my needle in a strange way and never have any problem with twisting. Thread both ends of the thread through the eye and pull both ends through the loop on the other side. This is called a "Lark's Head" Knot the ends and sew.
http://www.michaels.com/slow-motion-...ml?fdid=videos
For those who are not familiar with thread heaven -- it is sold in a tiny -- about 1 inch square! -- blue box and looks like an opaque hard, jelly-like substance. You place the beginning of your thread on top of the substance, held down with your finger or thumb, and pull the length of the thread across it.
Jan in VA
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
miriam
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
35
03-15-2016 07:39 PM
