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Sore fingers and hate to use thimbles? Get surgical tape and apply a couple of pieces of tape on the tip of your finger.
Hand quilting: Before starting a session, pre thread several needles so that you can quilt without interruption.
Save old candles and chunks of used soap. Scrape a threaded needle on the candle or soap so that the needle passes through the fabric easier.
Custom fit thimble – find polymer clay at the local craft store. Take a piece of clay and mold around your finger. Make dimples from the head of a pin. Bake – let cool – custom thimble.
If you are having problems threading a needle, try turning it around. Needles are stamped, when manufactured, therefore one side is easier to thread than the other.
When needles get unusable for quilting, you may use them to hang posters. Use a needle nose plier to insert into wall – the needle is virtually invisible on the wall and leaves a small hole in the poster and the wall.
Old needles can be placed in old lid containers such as prescription bottles when thrown away – that way, no one gets pricked accidentally.
When threading a machine needle, you can place a white piece of paper of plastic spoon behind the needle to see the hole better.
Try wetting the eye of the needle when trying to thread the needle – sometimes easier than wetting the thread.
Store needles in pencil lead containers (used for mechanical pencils)
Sweep the floor with a magnet so that any dropped needles won’t prick animals or people.
Find some non-moisturizing soap. Thread a group of needles with thread before beginning your quilting session. Insert the threaded needles into the soap. Saves time because you don't have to interrupt your session to thread a new needle. After you are done, keep the needles in the soap to preserve the tips and ward off rust.
Threading needles. Put a drop of water on the eye of the needle itself rather than the thread.
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