Threading a needle and securing the thread with a knot is the first step in making anything you want to sew by hand. The procedure is the same for both a small and a large needle. Here's how to thread a needle and fix the thread with two different methods.
Steps
Step 1. Choose the needle suitable for the thread you want to use
The needles come in different sizes and it is important to choose one that has a large enough eye to pass through the thread.
- You can buy a kit of needles of different sizes and try different ones to find the one of the right size.
- If you need help choosing the right needle, ask the staff at the haberdashery where you go to get supplies for help.
Step 2. Cut the right amount of thread
A thread longer than 91 cm may tangle as you sew, but with too short a thread you may find yourself needing to thread the needle again with more thread in no time at all. Make sure you carefully determine how much floss you need before you begin.
- If you don't know exactly how much yarn you need, try rounding down. This way you can always re-thread the needle with more thread. On the other hand, tangled yarn can be really difficult to unravel.
- Cut the thread perpendicularly with sharp scissors so that the tip of the thread is easier to thread into the needle.
Method 1 of 2: Method 1: Thread the needle and tie the thread with your fingers
Step 1. Insert the thread through the eye of the needle
Hold the needle between your thumb and forefinger with the eye end facing up, and hold the end of the thread between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand. Thread the thread through the eye of the needle.
- If you have trouble seeing the eye of the needle, turn on a light for better visibility.
- To insert the thread more easily through the eye, make the tip of the thread more compact by wetting it with your tongue and pressing it between your lips.
Step 2. Pull the thread through the eye
Thread several inches of thread through the eye of the needle to prevent the needle from slipping off as you try to tie the knot.
Step 3. Hold the other end of the thread between your thumb and forefinger
Make sure the thread does not come out of the eye of the needle.
Step 4. Wrap the thread around your finger
Use your thumb to hold the thread pressed against your index finger. Use your free hand to wrap the thread around your index finger to make a loop around your finger.
Step 5. Rub the wire
Rub the ring thread against your index finger using your thumb. Continue scrubbing and curling the floss towards the tip of your finger. Remove the thread from your finger while keeping the ring intact.
- At this point the two ends of the thread should be intertwined and the end of the thread should come out of the ring.
- If the ring comes undone, try again. Practicing will help you perfect this method.
Step 6. Tie the knot
With your fingers, grab the end of the thread that comes out of the ring. Keep the other end of the thread still threaded through the needle between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand. Pull the thread with both hands until you get a knot.
- If the ring does not close in a knot, it means that it was badly woven in step number 4. Repeat the step.
- For a larger knot, repeat the whole process forming a second loop around your index finger and making sure that the smaller knot enters the second loop. When you go to tighten the second loop, the first knot should go directly into the second knot.
- To work with stronger thread use the double thread method. Instead of leaving one end of the thread free, join the two ends of the thread together after threading the needle. Follow the instructions in step 4 to tie the knot as if it were just one end of the thread, holding both ends of the thread in your fingers instead of just one.
Method 2 of 2: Method 2: Thread the needle and tie the thread with the needle threader
Step 1. Insert the needle threader through the eye of the needle
The flexible wire ring is inserted through the eye. Once it has regained its shape on the other side of the eye, you will have the largest opening in which to pass the thread.
Step 2. Pass the thread through the needle threader
Insert the tip of the thread into the metal ring of the needle threader, then grab the tip of the thread and pull it through the ring.
Step 3. Pull the needle threader out of the eye of the needle
Slowly pull the needle threader out of the eye so that the thread also passes through the eye. Pull the thread out of the needle threader. The needle should now be threaded.
Step 4. Wrap the thread around the needle
Keep the longest end of the thread perpendicular to the needle. Wrap the thread around the needle by making two turns. To get a bigger knot, make three turns.
Step 5. Pull the thread towards the eye
Pull the twisted ends of the thread along the needle towards the eye. Continue pulling the entire length of the thread.
Step 6. Tie the knot
When you have reached the end of the thread and a loop has formed, tighten it until it is closed in a knot.
Advice
- Not everyone chooses to close the thread with a knot. An alternative method is to baste the first stitches, or to pass them through the same holes several times.
- Another possibility is to make a buttonhole, that is to make a single simple knot (like the first knot you make to tie your shoes). This sews a small starting point, but without pulling the thread completely. The thread is then passed through the hole between the buttonhole and the fabric.
Warnings
Store the needles in a small box or on a pin point to avoid losing them
Which You Will Need
- Ago
- Wire
- Sharp scissors
- Manual needle threader (optional)
