If you have found your way to this article, I am guessing you have some sewing experience. And there’s a 50/50 probability that, at some point in time, you thought threading the needle was a super simple and easy job. Not that it isn’t, but there are always those days when we just can’t seem to get it. And then there’s that frustrating moment when you thread it but immediately screw it up.
Precisely, this is why someone came up with the immaculate idea of a needle threader. Needle threaders are small and handy devices that help you do the obvious: thread a needle. There is not a lot to it, but you do have to choose one that is easy to use for you. There are tons of them on the market in all different colors, shapes, and sizes, and most of them barely cost a few dollars. You can buy a bunch to try them out.
Top Picks for best needle threaders
Best Needle threaders for Hand Sewing
- Phinus Gourd shaped needle threaders (Basic Needle threader) – Jump to review
- Clover Antique yarn needle threader (Clover needle threader) – Jump to review
- Jofefe stainless steel (LoRan needle threader) – Jump to review
- Hummingbird needle threader (Hummingbird threader) – Jump to review
Best Needle threader for Sewing Machines
Buying Guide – Best Needle Threaders
Now here’s the thing that might surprise novices a little. Needle threaders also happen to be of different types. So when I said that there is not a lot to it, that is not entirely true. When it comes to needle threaders, the brand is not the most important thing. Every brand will offer you pretty much the same thing, maybe in a different color or material. You’d rather pick out the type of needle threader that you find most convenient to work with.
So here goes the main types of needle threaders with their descriptions
- Basic needle threaders
- Clover needle threaders
- LoRan needle threaders
- Hummingbird needle threaders
- Looped needle threaders
Basic Needle Threaders
This article would lose some of its meaning if we didn’t address the “elephant in the room” of needle threaders, also known as the one that will inevitably break. These threaders have existed since the dawn of sewing. They are also the most affordable. They barely cost a few cents apiece. And let’s admit it, they do their job and thread the needle. But they break. A lot. a little too much for the greater good of sewing.
Basic needle threaders have been around since the beginning of sewing, and they are also the cheapest. They barely cost a few cents apiece. They do their job and thread the needle. Since these threaders are best known for breaking easily, we picked out a deal where you get 30 pieces of them for just a few dollars. They come in gourd shapes in all sorts of colors, have a plastic body, and the wire is made of steel. fits sewing needles of 3.1 cm, 3.7 cm, 4.2 cm, 4.6 cm, 5.1 cm, and 4.4 cm. There is also a long-tailed gold eye needle that can pass through the 7 mm ribbon.
Clover needle threaders
Someone was kind enough to modify the generic needle threader and create the Clover needle threader. It was a company called Clover that came up with this, and the name has remained for the device itself ever since. In this new threader, they removed the brittle little steel wire and replaced it with a flat strip of metal. The mechanics are exactly the same as the generic needle threader. But these are thicker and will aid you pretty well in a good cross stitch. Somehow, clover needle threaders tend to be a tad bit expensive. They do, however, occasionally come in a variety of creative designs.
This is a very pretty vintage design needle threader by Clover, which is a treat to the eye and makes up a little for the $10 pricing. This is not double sided.
The brittle steel wire was replaced by a flat strip of metal in the Clover threader. The mechanics are exactly the same as the generic needle threader. This is a classic Clover product that threads from both sides.
LoRan Needle Threader
LoRan needle threaders are more than just a cosmetic upgrade, as is the case with Clover needle threaders. This is a modernized version of the traditional needle threader. They are loaded from the side and hooked through the eye. The extremely robust hooks on both sides let you choose between using smaller and bigger needles (or eyes). You may also combine them to create needle minders. If you look at the design, it is just a simple sheet of metal, so of course these are dirt cheap. In my experience, they are also the easiest to use and are less likely to let you down in a pinch.
However, there are several things to watch out for. The hooks are a bit large, so if you use tiny needles, like petites, you might not be able to accommodate them. You also need to be cautious not to bend the hooks while they are in your kit, because doing so would make it extremely difficult to thread the needles.
The LoRan is a modernized version of the traditional needle threader. They are loaded from the side and hooked through the eye. The extremely robust hooks on both sides let you choose between using smaller and bigger needles (or eyes).
This 60-piece pack is less expensive than some single-piece packs. Even if you don't need this many, it makes more sense to catch this deal instead.
Hummingbird Needle Threader
This one is a user favorite and is really easy and convenient. I would say so myself, too. It comes in a fun bird shape and is a cute thing to look at. But ignoring the aesthetic attributes, this device was crafted to fit everyone’s needs when it comes to hand sewing. It comes with a cover so it doesn’t break, which is a pretty cool thing to do. It’s tiny enough to go through any and all needles. But you can’t have it all at once, and this device has tried to establish that it can, which it sometimes fails at. So despite the excellent attempt, this might not always be totally useful.
Hummingbird needle threaders are really easy and convenient. It comes in a fun bird shape and is a cute thing to look at. This device was crafted to fit everyone's needs when it comes to hand sewing. It comes with a cover so it doesn't break, which is a pretty cool thing to do. It's tiny enough to go through any and all needles. Hummingbird Needle Threaders by Dritz come in a pack of 12 pieces.
Dritz Looped Needle Threaders
Even though LoRan needle threaders are said to be the easiest to use, we’ve already talked about how some people might find them hard to use. So Dritz came up with a remedy for that, which we call the looped needle threader. This is basically a ring of wire, but they build it without a link and by pressing the wire into a long spike. You insert the thread into the ring before threading the needle with the wire. This one stands out as something of an outlaw in this list because it is much more suitable for machines instead of hand sewing.
Dritz designed the looped needle threader, which is basically a ring of wire, but they build it without a link and by pressing the wire into a long spike. You insert the thread into the ring before threading the needle with the wire. This is best suited for sewing machines and not hand sewing. Use this to thread loopers on sergers. can be stored on magnets.
That is about all in the field of needle threaders. If reading descriptions and instructions confuses you, you can try out one of each to see which one you like best. Needle cutters may have more varieties than you expected if you are a novice, but most of these are extremely cheap and won’t hurt your pockets much. Before we wrap up, there is a crucial question that gets asked a lot, and we would like to touch on that.
Summary – Sewing Insight’s Final Verdict
Best Needle threaders for Hand Sewing
- Phinus Gourd shaped needle threaders (Basic Needle threader) – Jump to review
- Clover Antique yarn needle threader (Clover needle threader) – Jump to review
- Jofefe stainless steel (LoRan needle threader) – Jump to review
- Hummingbird needle threader (Hummingbird threader) – Jump to review
Best Needle threader for Sewing Machines
LoRan needle threaders are topping the charts. They are the most popular and easiest to use. As for alternatives if LoRans aren’t working out for you, we have listed quite a few of them for you to get started with.
If you are looking to setup your sewing equipment, don’t miss our articles about the best hand sewing needles and best sewing scissors. If you are an advanced sewist, have a look at our best sewing books and best sewing magazines posts and if you are looking to get a basic, heavy duty or industrial sewing machine, have a look at some of our great articles.
Related Posts
Best needle threaders for sewing
If you have found your way to this article, I am guessing you have some sewing experience. And there’s a 50/50 probability that, at some point in time, you thought…
Best Needle For Sewing Fleece
One of these creative, versatile fabrics, fleece, is known for making the most comfortable things you’ll always want to grab. It comes in a variety of eye-catching patterns and vivid…
Best Sewing Machine Needles
I assure you that you’re not the only one if you’re thinking, “I do not even know what sort of needle lies in my sewing machine, but never mind, I…
Best Hand Sewing Needles
Are you looking for the best hand sewing needles? Let me help you! I can be somewhat referred to as a “needle nerd,” so a lot of people ask me…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Well, here’s the thing about it: Sewing machines have automatic needle threaders. There are even external automatic needle threaders, just like the rest of the things we’ve talked about here. But there is a downside to it. Some of these do a pretty good job, but in most cases, the hit-miss ratio is not so reliable on these. It makes more sense to just do it manually instead of trying it with an automatic needle threader about 20 times. Second, most of these automatic tools were made for regular sewing needles, not tapestry needles, so they only work about half the time. These needles occasionally cause the eyeballs to shatter since their bigger eyes don’t match the mechanics as well. Hopefully, that answers the question.
LoRan needle threaders are ideal for hand sewing.
Dritz Looped Needle Threaders are good for machine sewing.
The generic needle threader tends to break very easily
The post Best needle threaders for sewing appeared first on Sewing Insight.