How to Re-thread the Needle
to Keep it Threaded!

Don't just thread the needle, re-thread the needle! This simple trick will put an end to pulling the floss out of your needle.

It frustrates even the most experienced stitcher - pulling your floss out of your needle as you cross stitch. I tend to do it more when I'm in a hurry, trying to get those last few stitches finished before I have to set my cross stitch piece down.

The idea came to me as I had a particularly long run of "de-threading" my needle.

Re-thread the needle in 4 easy steps

It's so simple that I can't imagine why I haven't seen it anywhere else. (If you have seen this before, please let me know. Congratulations to who ever thought of it first. I wish I'd discovered it sooner!) Thread your needle the way you normally would. Tug and hold the floss down at the bottom of the eye of your needle Loop the end of the floss around In the same direction as before, re-thread the needle by passing  the floss through the eye of the needle a second time and pull it taut Be certain not to make a knot or you won't be able pull the needle through the fabric.

If you are using more than one strand of floss, you need only re-thread one of the strands. It provides enough of a "tug" to keep you from pulling the floss out completely. If you re-thread too many strands, it will act as a knot.

You can use the re-thread technique for floss, yarn or any "thread" that will easily fit into any large-eye needle. This trick is especially useful for kids.

Other tips for trouble-free stitching

Cross stitch blending filament and metallic threads can be especially challenging to work with. They are often more delicate than your regular 6-strand cotton floss. They behave differently as you stitch. They just feel different. To learn a different technique for threading this type of "floss," as well as other suggestions for working with specialty flosses  click to read our tutorial: Metallic Floss  - 5 Tips for Stunning Results.

Any craft is better when you have the right tools, and needles are no exception. Click here to learn more about the best needles to use for counted cross stitch.

No discussion about needles would be complete with addressing needle threaders. Click to read my reviews on current needle threaders and see which one is head-and-shoulders above the rest.

I hope these tips help you to have stress-free stitching!