How to hide threads and use a self-threading needle

Today’s tutorial is a must watch for new quilters, anyone trying out longarm or free motion quilting for the first time or anyone who has trouble threading a needle.

I show you how to hide threads once you’re done quilting (you know the thread ends that you have to leave so the quilting doesn’t unravel with use). I also show you how to use a self-threading needle. These puppies are awesome. I’ve threaded up to six threads at a time on self-threading needles and hidden them all at once. That’s a real time-saver if you’re like me and get pretty nuts with your quilting and have lots of starts and stops.

You could also use a self-threading needle all the time if you have trouble threading a needle. You just snap the thread over the groove at the top of the needle and then it is threaded. Simple as that.

I hope you enjoy today’s tutorial. If you have a technique you’d like to see, tell me about it in the comments, and I’ll add it to the list of video tutorials I’m planning. Happy quilting!

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Comment (5)

  1. I am brand new to quilting. I made my first quilt top that I am about to start quilting. I have a couple questions…. Why do I need to leave threads that I will have to hide? Is it because I can’t see backwards with a walking foot to lock the stitches in place? All of my reading on how to do this, I never came across anything about how to do this. Thank you!

  2. There are two ways to take care of your thread ends when quilting. They both start the same way. When you begin quilting in the middle of the quilt, you need to pull your bobbin thread to the top of the quilt so it doesn’t get tangled up in your quilting stitches. Take one stitch, then use the top thread to lift the bobbin thread to the top of the quilt. The top stitch will dislodge during this process. Now put your needle back down in the exact spot your bobbin thread comes out.

    Here’s where the methods split. Some quilters take several stitched in place to secure the thread and then start stitching as normal. When they’re finished, they simply clip their threads, possibly apply a little fray check and call it a day.

    The second, and I believe more secure, method is to take one stitch forward, one stitch back and then quilt as normal. When you are finished, you have the tails of thread that need to be hidden so they don’t work their way out of the quilt and unravel with use. That where the video instructions come in.

    Let me know if you have any more questions. I’m always happy to help new quilters.

  3. Why have I never thought to use a self-threading needle? I will have to go out and get some, as I hate hiding one thread at a time!

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