Tips & Techniques

4Bring needle to thread Hold the needle in your dominant hand, and

grab the thread close to the cut edge with your other hand. Move the needle to the thread, sliding the eye over the thread’s end.

#16Use with 160 to 240 seed beads

#12Use with 80 to 130 seed beads

#10Use with 60 to 110 seed beads

#13Use with 110 to 150 seed beads

1Start with stretches Cut the thread, hold one end in each hand, and

pull. If you’re working with Nymo, condition it. This relaxes the thread’s kinks and curls, making it easier to use.

3Sink your teeth into it Flatten the thread’s cut edge to its thin-

nest profile by pressing it with your fingernails, squeezing it with pliers, or biting it gently with your teeth.

5If all else fails Pass the wire loop of a needle threader through the eye of

your needle. Put your thread through the loop, then pull the loop out of the needle. Success!

2Shear the edge Trim the end of your thread on an angle using very

sharp scissors. A tapered edge free of stray fibers will slide gracefully through the needle’s eye.

Get the point

Big Eye (Use for loomwork, macramé, and trans-ferring beads)

Small Big Eye (Use for off-loom stitches and tight spots)

#12 long(Use for

loomwork,off-loom

stitches, and transferring

beads)

Twisted wire(Use for stringing and tight spots)

A Hacky Sack, or footbag, makes a colorful pin cushion.

To choose a needle, consider your bead and thread sizes, the number of passes you’ll make through the beads, and the beading technique.

Beading Needles (Use for off-loom stitches and loomwork) The smaller the needle, the bigger the num-ber.

facetjewelry.comFCT-

RSO

N05

16_B

NB0

2

©2005 Kalmbach Publishing Co. This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.

5 steps for easier needle threading