Fiber Hiders?

[clockwork]

So, I'm thinking my next cross stitch "gadget" is going to be a fiber hider, a pair of little stick things, one with a wire loop like a needle threader and the other with a little hook. They're supposed to make finishing threads that are too short for a needle much easier. Since I am really bad about leaving my tails long enough I thought it might be a good investment but since most seem to be around $30.00 I thought I'd ask here first.
This is one of the ones I've found to give an example in case the term for them varies: http://www.nordicneedle.com/PROD//6756.html" target="_blank

Does anyone use one of these?
Which one?
Is it really helpful?
The Star De-tailer is a similar thing sold on many websites that's a lot cheaper, has anyone tried that one?

[Rose]

Sorry I have never seen these before so I can't say if they are worth the investment or not. But $30.00 seems really expensive.

[Reta]

Lovely gadget

Hubby uses Loran Needle Threader

[MaggieM1750]

I've looked at this little goody myself.. and have resisted so far because $30 seems a bit steep for what it is.
I have been managing with wire needle threaders... and I really like the cheapie ones Nordic Needle sells. Black oval, I think they are $0.80 each.. I buy 5 whenever I place an order with them.

[Newfie Princess]

I use a really fine crochet hook for lace that my Grandmother gave me. Works great!

[Parksfarm]

I have one - it's called a doololly (not sure of the spelling but that's how it's pronounced) and I absolutely love it. I usually use it when I have to frog a few stitches, that way I don't have to rip out as much to have ends long enough to bury... I've had it for probably 15 years or so, not sure what it cost. I may have even received it as a gift from my stitching buddy...

[Stitch]

I don't have one of those specifically, but I did get a kind of needle threader (I think Dritz makes them) combined with a small hook to perform the same purpose. But after doing this I found I really hardly ever use it. I'm glad I didn't spend the $30 on that one.

[3madspaniels]

I tend to work to the last bit of thread too! I sometimes pass the empty needle under the stitches on the back to finish off, and then thread the needle with the floss before pulling through.

I use one of these to thread the needle when I do this

http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/DMC- ... lsh-6.aspx" target="_blank

I know it wouldn't be as pretty as the one that you found, but two of these together would do exactly the same job at a fraction of the cost!

[Angel]

I can save you the money...When you've finished with your thread and you discover that it' too short to tuck underneath other stitches, don't bother trying anyway, simply take a new piece of thread and loop it so both ends are through your needle, then tuck that under your stitches. Put the remnants of your used thread through the loop and pull. As you putt the looped thread through the stitches, it will take the tiny thread with it. It's exactly the same method for free.

It's what I do, and I'm known to work my thread way beyond stopping point. I've had to rethread it six times because the end is too short to continue working with, but I've only got three more stitches left to do it that colour and I'm blooming well going to do them with that bit of thread!

[clockwork]

I can save you the money...When you've finished with your thread and you discover that it' too short to tuck underneath other stitches, don't bother trying anyway, simply take a new piece of thread and loop it so both ends are through your needle, then tuck that under your stitches. Put the remnants of your used thread through the loop and pull. As you putt the looped thread through the stitches, it will take the tiny thread with it. It's exactly the same method for free.

It's what I do, and I'm known to work my thread way beyond stopping point. I've had to rethread it six times because the end is too short to continue working with, but I've only got three more stitches left to do it that colour and I'm blooming well going to do them with that bit of thread!

Yeah, that's the method I use now, except that I use a bit of fishing line to thread the needle for my loop. Floss might work better, I'll try that next time.

I know exactly what you mean about the "three stitches" thing. It seems that it works out like that for me every other floss length or so and I am NOT going to start a whole new piece! So here I am threading and rethreading and struggling with the back.

Well I guess what I'm going to do is keep using my current method (I'll also try threading with floss and also a needle threader) and wait on getting a gadget to help me. Maybe someday I'll stumble over one that's too pretty to pass up and I'll get one then.

[stitchingmae]

Ohh thanks you guys never thought of the loop thing to tuck short fibers


As far as using a piece of floss until it is very short...I was in a pt's room the other night and saw the tail end of a infomercial and it was a small "must have" device that was used to pull threads back through sweaters...if they snag...it was very small though...addicted to cross stitch as I am...I thought hey that would work better than re-threading the needle...I am known to put the needle in the fabric...thread it pull through to the other side and do the same...just to finish a couple of stitches...but I can't think for the life of me what this item is called. It looks nifty though!!


I use the loop method for starting a piece of floss
I was until now taking that loose end...through the loop when i pulled tight to secure it which...didn't always work they would fray out and I would have to restitch thanks to this post i now have a new solution.

[Mabel Figworthy]

I tend to use my thread up too far, especially in case of "only three more stitches in that colour" like Angel describes. I would like to sound a note of caution though (voice of experience here ), if you do this with white floss (and presumable other light shades) the oils or whatever from your fingers can discolour them where you've been holding the needle, and it may not become visible until much later -- my very first project was a white cat and I used up every thread until the last bit, and a few months later you could see exactly where each thread ended because the last few stitches were all yellow and grubby which didn't show up when I was stitching.

[tiffstitch]

Good point Mabel. I've done that myself, only with a unicorn. Since then I will stop early if I have more than one stitch left to go so I don't end up having to fiddle with tucking the end in.

Angel: I like your method. I tend to put the needle through the back stitches first, then wet the thread and stick it through the eye and pull it through. That works most of the time. If I get stuck again I'll try your way!

[~threadbear~]

I'm the same, stitching down to the last possible bit and even having to thread the needle each side of the fabric just to be able to make the cross.
Never thought of it making a difference to the colour on lighter threads. I'll keep that in mind from now though.

[clockwork]

Yeah, I can't help it but use all the floss. And the weird thing is that I always have a ton of floss left over from kits. It's not like I'm really cutting it close I just can't bear to toss long lengths away, and starting a new length for three stitches feels like failure! I just started a new project and I'm trying to avoid this little obsession. I have a needle threader that I scrounged up from a little portable sewing kit just in case but I'm going to try to force myself to end the floss before it's all short and potentially grungy.