Jul 14, 20222 min read

How to use a needle threader for hand embroidery

Threading a needle was super difficult for me when I first started hand embroidery, so much so that I nearly quit the craft altogether! That’s why I love including these metal needle threaders in most of my embroidery kits, and make sure to have one near me whenever I sit down to stitch myself.

Hope holds up a flat, metal needle threader, which has a small hook on one end, and a larger hook on the other end. She's working on top of a bright teal surface, below which sits a green pin cushion and a pair of pink stork-shaped embroidery scissors.

In today’s post, I’ve provided instructions for how to use a needle threader in written, photo, and video format (feel free to jump to the end of this post for the video tutorial, or watch it directly on my YouTube channel!).

But first: Where do you find these things, anyway?

You can find these by searching for “metal needle threaders” online, or by visiting the “notions” section of your favorite local craft store.

How to use a metal needle threader for hand embroidery

To use a metal needle threader, start by placing the eye of your needle over the loop. Your needle should be hanging from the threader, demonstrated in the photos below.

Hope places her needle over the smaller hook on her needle threader.

Hope's needle is now hanging from her needle threader.

Next, grab one end of your floss and put that over the loop as well.

Hope brings a small length of white embroidery floss near the metal needle threader, which still has a needle hanging from that last step.

Hope's placed her small piece of floss within the hook.

Hope's folded her piece of floss on top of itself, securing it to the hook on her threader.

Finally, pull your needle over both the loop and the floss.

Hope begins to pull her needle over the hook portion of the threader and and floss.

Hope's now slid her needle past the threader, and is continuing to slide it over her floss.

Hope has now placed her threader back on the teal surface, and holds up her length of now threaded embroidery floss.

In this last shot, you can see Hope's length of floss has been threaded.

That's it! Now your needle is threaded -- how simple is that?

Video tutorial for how to use a metal needle threader

Thank you for being here, and happy stitching!

I hope this was useful, and I can’t wait to see what you make - whether you create something from one of my kits or patterns, or from a design of your very own! If you’d like to share your work with me, you can always tag me on your social media accounts (@hopebroidery on Instagram and Twitter, @hope.broidery on TikTok). If you don’t have public social accounts, but still want to share, consider emailing me a few pictures (hope@hopebroidery.com), I would love the chance to tell you how much I love your work!

Happy stitching!