Stitchers' Forum
Katerina
Member
Hello everyone :)
I'm completely new to cross stitch, and was a bit worried that I'd find it too difficult as I'm rubbish at sewing, but I've just finished my first sampler, and I really enjoyed doing it.
I'm hoping for some advice and tips, so please be patient if I ask lots of questions!
My first question is - can anyone recommend a good needle threader? I've broken two so far - those thin wire ones - so I'm looking for something that will do the job and last!
Kat
Brigitte Gant
Member
Hi, Katerina, welcome to our merry bunch of mad cross stitchers. So glad you have taken to the little crosses. I am no good at sewing either, but love stitching. I can cope with one needle, one thread going at my speed.
Regarding needle threader, I once wasted precious £5 on one which was supposed to be the answer to all our needle threading problems. It was very frustrating, because mostly it did not thread and when it threaded I managed to unthread it again when taking the needle out. I don't mind admitting that I wet the end of the thread, squeeze it between thumb and finger and push it through the eye successfully - ok not always at first go, but at least I am not relying on some silly contraption that cost me a fiver.
Barbara Stone
Member
Hi Katerina, I agree with Brigitte, don't waste your money on expensive needle threaders. I managed to buy one at a craft show on one occasion, but I've never seen them since, and I'm still using it. It's made out of a flat piece of metal, about 1 inch long, its got a small hole at one end, and a larger hole at the other end, it cost about 50p and its been worth its weight in gold. However most of the time, I just
do as Bigitte, wet it, squeeze it and shove the end through the eye of the needle.
Anyway, welcome to our merry band of stitchers.
Janet
Member
Hi Katrina, I lay the thread over my left index finger then using my right index finger I go under the thread and bring it up between my left index finger and thumb ,pinching it between finger and thumb,then put the eye of the needle over the pinched thread then push down slightly while relieving the grip on the thread and it will feed through the eye of the needle, I hope I have explained this well enough, if not I,m sorry. I learned this method at school and although I can't sew I can do cross stitch.
brenda midgley
Member
Hello Katrina - I have a similar needle threader to the one Barbara describes. Mine too is flat metal but has hooks at each end, all one piece of metal. The beauty of it is that - if you were a subscriber a few years ago when our gift was a little flat silver needle holder (open up like a poweder compact and inside was a magnetic bed to hold your needles) - the needle holder fits in there as well and magnetises. Don't know where you live and if you are able to get to Ally Pally; but I am going in October. If I see one of these needle threaders there I'll get one and if you want it you can have it. I'm on brenda.midgley@tiscali.co.uk - so if you want to make a note of that and then e-mail me after Ally Pally I can let you know if I managed to pick one up for you. I don't remember how much it was but not very expensive I'm sure so if you see one in the meantime and don't want another - it's no problem.
I loved Barbara's description of 'wet it, squeeze it and shove it' - such an elegant manner in which to do one's needlework my dear! Brenda
Katerina
Member
Hello Brenda,
Thank you so much for your kind offer :)
I live all the way down in Devon, so won't be going to Ally Pally, but would be delighted if you could get one for me.
I've also seen a Prym one for embroidery needles, which looks very good, but you can only get them online I think and the postage is more expensive than the actual item, which seems daft!
http://www.fredaldous.co.uk/product_352240036.htm
That's the link - if anyone knows where else I can get one of these, or if they work, please let me know.
Thanks :)
Kat x
Cecilia
Member
Hi Kat, and welcome to the CSG forum.
Btw. How did you get your avatar to display above your name?
Brigitte Gant
Member
I reckon by magic, Cecilia. These sort of technical things never cease to baffle me. I think I am quite a cool gran by doing this and then I sometimes manage to accidentally hit a button and whatever I have typed so far disappears.
Cecilia
Member
Magic! I thought so, trouble is my magic wand isn't working. (boo hoo).
Barbara Stone
Member
Well Brenda, one does "wet it, squeeze it and shove it" Can't be more elegant than that can I? Mine now lives on the chain that contains my travelling cutter - its raised quite a few eyebrows when I've been wearing it while travelling, and I never thought of putting it in my needle holder. Incidentally my magic wand is starting to show its age - as the old song goes, "her magic days are ending, when her wand has started bending!" well mine's got more than a bend in it!!! (And if you're wondering, the song that line comes from is Nobody loves a fairy when she's forty)
brenda midgley
Member
Barbara - You're only forty! - gosh - lucky you; years more ahead of you then for wetting it, squeezing it and shoving it....! Brenda
brenda midgley
Member
Drat - there you are then - you can now tell I'm well over 40 - forgot the real reason I came into this section of the forum! I blame Barbara. Right - back to business.
Katerina - Just to let you know I've made a note in my little stitching book to get you a needle threader if I can at Ally Pally. I won't forget now it's written down. Brenda
Brigitte Gant
Member
The conversation between Barbara and Brenda got quite naughty. I'm only 31, if you look with one eye.
Katerina
Member
Cecilia, I have no idea where that picture came from!
The funny thing is, it looks like a photo from the game Animal Crossing, which I play on the Wii and my DS - so maybe it's come with me from another forum???
I am 47, does that make me the youngest one here?
Ha ha, I don't care - I've always got on better with older people. I go on a website where everyone apart from me is over 60 and many are in their eighties. my hubby is 16 years older than me too.
I've always said I was born in the wrong era :)
Kat
Brigitte Gant
Member
Aaaah, Katerina, you are a mere babe. I blame my parents for my age.
140559
Member
I would also like to say welcome to you! I personally really enjoy this forum and have missed out on all the chat this summer! Hopefully you'll soon be confident and wondering why everything seemed so hard at first. Personally I'm looking forward to getting back to my stitching after my hospital enforced break!
Have fun
Alison
Flee
Member
Hellooooooo and welcome from me too ...........
Barbara Stone
Member
Wish I were only 40 - actually no I don't. If I was, then I would have to continue working full time and wouldn't be semi retired, and able to do all the things I want to do. Anyway, back to basics - we were talking in my patchwork group, and it was suggested that to thread a needle, you wet the eye of the needle and not the thread. It actually works - how, I've got no idea, but that might help Katerina. Sorry not to have replied before, I've been working very hard.
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