How to make needle threading easy on my sewing machine

Would one of the wire threaders that you use for hand sewing not work for a machine needle too, or are the eyes on the machine needles smaller/ at a funny angle?

Mine has a needle threader on the machine that you pull down, works every time, but I know what you mean. On my old machine it took me ages. I did resort to the little wire loop thing, fiddly, but it did work.

I'm sure I read somewhere that if you spray the end of the thread with hairspray to stiffen it that helps and I'm sure it worked. Also make sure you've cut it with sharp scissors at an angle first.

Since I had both cataracts removed I can thread needles again.😄
Before that I often asked a child.😂

I hadn't thought about cutting on an angle crissy it makes sense.

All the new machines seem to come with built in threaders.

Yes, I was struggling before both my cataracts were done as well, even with all the tips I could think of. All OK now.

You can buy a magifying glass on a stand where the head can move around, which you can position in front of the machine. I bought one some years ago in Lidl, France, it is great for many things, Amazon has similar. Failing that you can get a small flexible needle threader the type you used to get in sewing kits.

Thanks the hair spray works!

B9exchange

Mine has a needle threader on the machine that you pull down, works every time, but I know what you mean. On my old machine it took me ages. I did resort to the little wire loop thing, fiddly, but it did work.

Mine has one of those but it doesn't work every time.
(It could be operate error rather than the machine.)

My machine came with a needle threader but it didn't last long. I use a normal threader on mine. Very fiddley but it does work.

crissy

I'm sure I read somewhere that if you spray the end of the thread with hairspray to stiffen it that helps and I'm sure it worked. Also make sure you've cut it with sharp scissors at an angle first.

That’s a good tip, thank you very much!

It helps if you remove the foot and holding a piece of white paper behind the needle.

I feel your pain! My modern machines have automatic needle threaders, but when I use my older machine I struggle to thread it.

I do have one of those little plastic threaders that I bought from Amazon. It works maybe half the time. When it doesn't, I resort to taking the needle out of the machine, threading it using the wire loop thing that I use for hand-sewing needles and then carefully replacing the threaded needle in the machine! Make sure you thread it the right way round, from front to back...

I have a relatively new machine with an in-built threader. It stopped working but I held my phone up to it and enlarged the picture to see what the trouble was. The hook that catches the thread had moved to the side a bit so I knew then to pull it a little to the left when threading as that now works.

This is of no help to gin (looks like she's found help anyway) but it might be a useful tip for any aspect of this problem, whether threading machine or hand-sewing needles.

Allira

B9exchange

Mine has a needle threader on the machine that you pull down, works every time, but I know what you mean. On my old machine it took me ages. I did resort to the little wire loop thing, fiddly, but it did work.

Mine has one of those but it doesn't work every time.
(It could be operate error rather than the machine.)

I thought it was operator error then read somewhere that it doesn't work on the smallest sized needles. By which time I think I'd caused the hook to be slightly displaced/bent so I jiggle it about a bit and it works maybe 75% of the time on a good day!

I shall try the hairspray trick, I have a small travel size can that hasn't been used in about 10 years!

My machine has a self threader but never worked. I complained and they sent me a new one. It worked twice and then stopped. It’s the flimsiest bit of plastic so no wonder. It was not a cheap machine either. I was not too bothered then but my sight has deteriorated so now a big problem.

I used to love sewing but now dread the fight! I am just five foot ( maybe a little less) so most things need shortening and always sleeves.

I've had to replace twice the automatic needle threader on my very expensive (to me) Bernina machine. I realise trying to thread needles size 70 and under is the problem - the tiny wire that pushes through the needle eye was being pushed to one side, rendering it useless. I resort to the white card behind the needle for those.

I believe it is possible to have a needle threader fitted to a modern sewing machine, and many newer models have this feature.

I myself sew on a 1926 electric Singer and have solved your problem as follows:

Insert one of the wire threaders you use for hand-sewing into the eye of the machine needle. It should have the point of the threader coming out at the side or front of the needle where you insert the thread.

(Old machines like mine thread sideways through the neede from left to right, newer ones from back to front, which is why I fear the foregoing sentence may be unclear.)
You may need to use a cheap pair of reading glasses of a stronger strenght to do this, or a magniflying lamp.

Then take the upper thread, which you have already threaded the machine with up to this last point (threading the needle) and thread a crewel needle or embroidery needle with the upper thread, then pass the needle through the wire threader, drawing a good length through with the crewel needle. Draw the thread out of the crewel needle and draw the needle threader slowly out of the machine needle. Keep a firm hold on the loose end of the thread while you withdraww the threader!

If you have difficulty getting the upper thread through the holder on the front or side of your machine above the sewing needle, you can use the crewel needle trick there too.