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Do most people pre-thread their needles? If so, what is the advantage to doing that?

Do you use multiple threaded needles at the same time on a project? I have read about this technique, but haven't actually seen someone use it. I saw a photo that had numerous threaded needles hanging off the design. I wondered how I would prevent the floss from getting all tangled without a lot of effort and attention?

If your thinking of pre-threading needles, Pako makes this productwhere you write the color number/ symbol on a removable insert for each needle. Someone on this board has made her own- with a piece of paper and foam. I think all the needle manufacturers sell in bulk

Or you could tuck your threaded needle back into a bobbin of thread.
Carole (RCPerryls) has her own system in a bobbin box.

I don't think I could leave needles threaded in my project. I know I would end up with a tangled mess.

I don't pre-thread, but I do sometimes park my threads with the needles still on by sticking the needle into the fabric to hold it in place. It saves a bit of time when you have an area of confetti and keep having to change colour.

I pre-thread for BAPs that involve blended threads (like those from Scarlet Quince). I just buy a piece of foam from the craft store and a little plastic box with a lid for it to go in. I write the symbols on the foam with a Sharpie and then put the pre-threaded needle into the foam next to the right symbol. I get needles in bulk on e-bay- I think I got 100 for about $15 with shipping last time.

The advantage for me is that I don't have to spend a bunch of stitching time blending threads or re-threading needles, which is great for confetti heavy projects.

amandadawn wrote:I pre-thread for BAPs that involve blended threads (like those from Scarlet Quince). I just buy a piece of foam from the craft store and a little plastic box with a lid for it to go in. I write the symbols on the foam with a Sharpie and then put the pre-threaded needle into the foam next to the right symbol. I get needles in bulk on e-bay- I think I got 100 for about $15 with shipping last time.

The advantage for me is that I don't have to spend a bunch of stitching time blending threads or re-threading needles, which is great for confetti heavy projects.

That's a really good idea since my issue with having lots of threaded needles is thinking they would end up all over the place and/or stolen by the cats. But foam in a plastic box sounds like it would solve that issue.

I don't pre-thread, but if I use a color and still have some length of thread on the needle, I do keep the needle threaded. I store them like this:

The issue I do have is that the holes in the paper start to get bigger and the needles get loose from the paper. When that happens I just make a new copy of the color key. I'm thinking about putting down a strip of fabric or tape on the paper to try to stop this.

I pre thread 6 needles at a time if there is a lot of the same colour Like in the "Tribal Owl i am doing

I've been following this even though I don't pre-thread and never really felt the need to, but this:

Reta wrote:I pre thread 6 needles at a time if there is a lot of the same colour Like in the "Tribal Owl i am doing

is something that would save me a lot of time on the background of the wolf I'm doing!

I'm thinking I could pre-thread 6 strands of the four or so main colours and stick those needles through the hole in the bobbins to 'hang' the bobbins on the front of the fabric (I'm starting and finishing on the front for this one, so no flipping).

Thanks for the idea, Reta!!

I use the pako needle organiser. It saves loads of time!

I make my own thread holder cards out of cornflake packets and staple a piece of felt on the bottom for putting the needles in if there is enough thread left

similar idea as Nivabef does