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Easy threading needles
07-20-10

Spiral Eye Needles

spiraleye.jpg

These ingenious sewing needles can be threaded blindfolded. You pull the thread into a spiral from the side, and for the most part the thread will remain in the eye as you sew. That is not true for calyx eye needles (invented a hundred years ago) as a solution to the vexing problem of threading the eye. It's as easy for the thread to slip out of the open slot at the end of the calyx needle as it is to slip in, and this wavering can fray the thread. The spiral eye needle doesn't snag, but in my experience it will occasionally let the thread slip out. Expert sewers might find that annoying. It is dead simple to slip back on, and the thread is not frayed, so I can put up with that small inconvenience.

Spiral Eye needles are expensive: $5 each. However they should last a lifetime if you don't lose track of them (they look very similar to regular sewing needles). What I really want is a side-threading sewing-machine needle. Schmetz makes some in limited sizes, but of a less ingenious design.

-- KK  

Sprial Eye Needle
3 for $16

Available from and manufactured by Spiral Eye Needles

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Comments

 
#1 | Tue, 07-20-10 05:45
me

smart !

 
#2 | Tue, 07-20-10 08:08
John

Well, if you have a "loose track" maybe you can tighten them with this needle.

In case you don't get it: it's "lose track".

 
#3 | Tue, 07-20-10 08:32
Edward Bryant

Ten years ago, I would have said "who cares". Now that I can hardly thread a needle due to aging eyes, I think: Brilliant! Unfortunately, now my kids are truly useless. jk

 
#4 | Tue, 07-20-10 01:46
Stephan Zielinski

Alternative: use a needle threader:

http://sewing.about.com/od/notions/ss/needlethreader.htm

 
#5 | Tue, 07-20-10 05:30
Shea

Brilliant idea. I've never been a fan of the needle threaders; they're often flimsy and fall apart easily.

 
#6 | Wed, 07-21-10 09:05
gzuckier

my mother says the calyx eye needles hurt her finger tip, these don't. also, the thread will pull out the top of the calyx eye needles sometimes, obviously can't happen here.

 
#7 | Thu, 07-22-10 08:05
jots

These needles can be found at independent quilt and sewing stores. if they don't have them, ask. Many will special order them for you.

 
#8 | Fri, 07-23-10 10:30
thumbs

Ahhhh, I will have to get me some of these. My old eyes see fine at about 18" - too far away to see those little bitty holes in the end of a needle! @ Edward; well, wait ten more years, and perhaps your kids will become useful again, LOL!

 
#9 | Sat, 07-24-10 01:18
carol

sounds too good to be true. I have tried the self threaders not good. do these come in small sizes. I was a quilter until the needles got too hard to thread. carol

 

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