needles and thread

[gbell]

I sew a lot of bugle beads and seed beads and I have No 6 beading needles (thats what it says on the pack)

I am having terrible trouble getting the thread through the needle as the eye is just too small! I am using a very fine metallic thread.

Is there a larger size beading needle I could use or is there a very fine thread about that is also strong? I like the metalics as it gives a nice effect

Its driving me nuts, as a needle threader doesnt help

[muffin789]

I use size 10 or 12 beading needles (not sure if they're bigger or smaller than yours!), and tend to use KO thread. However, I'm considering trying Wildfire for sewing bugles and crystals as their sharp edges can cut through ordinary thread very easily, so I've found.

Don't know if that will be any help at all!!!

[jencel]

With beading needles, the higher the number, the finer is the needle, so your size 6's are one of the larger sizes of beading needles. I'm not sure if you can get bigger needles, but do you know the trick for threading them? Hold the thread so that it is almost hidden between your thumb and finger, with no floppy end sticking out, then take the needle to the thread. This keeps the thread steady, and works almost every time. If it doesn't, it could be that the thread is too thick.

As muffin says, bugles can cut through thread easily, as they have sharp edges. Widfire will probably (sorry, I said probably because I've never used it myself, so can't be definite) be ok, and there is a similar thread called Fireline that is also good for using with sharp edged beads.

[gbell]

blimey cant believe they are the biggest! I will give widfire a go

thanks for you help

[Jonesi]

You can get "big eye" beading needles where the eye is the complete length of the needle, that's what I use and they're really good as they accommodate most sizes of thread.

Have a nose at these - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BEADSMITH-PACK...ht_3395wt_1137

[gbell]

can you sew onto fabric with those?

I looked on your website Celia and your size 12 needles look like they have a much bigger eye than mine!

[jencel]

I forgot about big eye needles. I've never used them, so don't know if they'll work with fabric.

The photo on my needles page is 2 - 3 times real size, so you'd need to imagine it smaller to compare it.

[gbell]

damn! lol!

[Eiledon]

Hi. If you get a piece of nymo and fold it in half and then thread it through the needle. The bit of the thread that is in a loop, you put your thread you want the beads to go on through that. Thread your beads onto the needle, they will slide down the nymo thread and then onto the metalic thread.
I use this method a lot when I put seed beads onto crochet cotton and then knit bags with the seed beads knitted into a pattern in the bag.
You can see these on my website.

Hope this makes sense and good luck.

http://eiledon.co.uk

[gbell]

think I get what you mean but what is nymo?

[muffin789]

Nymo is "standard" beading thread - here. Any ordinary thread that you can get through the eye of your needle will do, though.

[Leyh]

I recently bought some different thread, I'd been using Nymo or One G, which I preferred but the new stuff is KO which is really fine and very smooth, I have had trouble with bugles cutting through thread, especially as all mine are vintage ones and really sharp edged. I shall look into wildfire. I always use Thread Heaven to condition the thread, makes the beads run along the thread easier and can make it easier to thread the needle. I use 12 and 15 needles, sometimes 24s when I'm using the really tiny vintage beads. Needle threaders should work especially with a size 6, maybe the thread is too thick.

[TreasureBin]

nymo is a smooth beading thread that comes in different thickness and colours.

[Kiamyka]

My favourite thread is Fireline - it's more expensive but much more robust and less likely to snap
if you want a laugh at how to (try to) thread a needle see my video
http://chrislinacre.co.uk/?q=content...beading-needle

[jgreenberg04]

I agree with muffin789