i use a skinny needle with a long eye - double the thread over and it threads right into the eye and then right thru the opening in the fabric weave it a bit and right out......love the little sound the knot makes when it 'goes to rest'

I took a course on machine quilting via Craftsy and the instructor said that it is OK to backstitch carefully when quilting in the ditch for quilts that are going to be put in the washer and dryer. Quilts you are giving for people to use. So I don't do as much burying of threads anymore and I find I can hardly see where I backstitched. On a gallopping horse, no one could see it either. Give yourself a break!

Hate burying threads? I never have to do that. I quilt with no knots. Cut a 36-inch thread, slide your needle to the middle, take the needle to the back and pull ½ of the thread to the back. Next, slide the needle to the center of the bottom 18-inches and bring the needle back up to the surface. Place the "spare" 18-inch thread to the side. Begin quilting, when about three inches from the end of the thread, weave the needle into the batt and cross a line of quilting, bring the needle back to the surface, and put the point of the needle into the hole where the thread comes out. Now, take the needle into the batt and cross a line of quilting, the thread will pop into the batt. Repeat for a total of three
times. Bring the needle back to the surface and cut off the thread. What you have done is buried your thread into the batt, crossing lines of quilting and it won't come out. Have used, taught and written about this technique since 1976. It works.
SandyQuilter

I back stitch a little when beginning to quilt and when ending, saves time and I'm sure it won't come out.

Forgot to mention, after burying/ending the first end of the thread, thread the remaining 18-inches and continue quilting going another direction. I will run the needle/thread through the batt as much 2-inches to come up in another spot to quilt.
SandyQuilter

I use a wire needle threader like the kind you thread hand needles. Just slip the looped wire 1/2" from the hole that the thread is coming through, then from the inside slip the looped wire to the surfice through the hole. Put thread end through looped wire and pull thread through hole and to surface 1/2" away. Clip.

I started out using the self-threading needles but found that many times, the thread would pull out thru the self-threading slit when I was trying to pull the thread thru the quilt. Then I discovered the Spiral eye needle and that works so much better. Yes, they are a bit pricey but well worth it, I think.

If your burying the threads why do you have to knot them. I do a couple of back stitchs, so don't feel I need to make a knot. - J.

That looks like the tool my Mom used to use to fix the runs in the nylon stockings. I haven't used that for threads, but have used the really TINY crochet hook that my Grandma had -- it slips between the treads and works well. I have also used the spiral needles and they work good as well.