Questions for beaders

I want to try and make some beaded decorations for xmas trees, I have two books with patterns and went and got some bits one of which is split needle for threading, 1st how do you open the end and 2nd how does the thread stay on the needle or 3rd is there any other kind of needle that I can use, its 3mm and seed beads I am using, also a really good bead online store my craft shop had a pretty poor selection of things and I think the thread is to thick as well, any help advise will be really appreciated, thanks from me

To make things really easy for threading, Billie, you need a Big Eye. It's not really a needle: it's a thin, continuous piece of wire which has been squashed to make something that looks like a needle (imagine a circle, like a letter O, that has been pinched into a point at either end). The beauty of it is that the whole thing is an 'eye' so however thin your beading thread is you can easily thread the Big Eye and, because it's so thin, it will go through even the smallest beads. If you like, I'll send you one, as I have a few spares - unless, of course, what you've got is the same thing. I know they used to sell a needle that you could thread without actually putting it through the eye somehow, and that's what I imagined you'd got.

The beading thread I use for things like this is Nymo, although I think there are some other brands available now (I bought mine some years ago) - I'm sure our regular beaders will tell you about them.

Good luck with the patterns, anyway: will look forward to seeing the results.

Lynda

Thank you Lynda that would be great if you would then I will know what to look for, I think the thread I have is Nymo it is very soft but looks thicker than some of the threads I have used for sewing but there was no size on it, but as I am just trying to see if I can do it first then if I can will get the items listed with the patterns, thank you again.

I swear by Nymo if I'm beading, not that I've done any for a while though.

Have a look at BEADS DIRECT Billie. They were always my fave. Good prices and brill service.

Thanks Lorraine will have a look at them.

Have put a Big Eye in the post to you, Billie.

Lynda

Thank you Lynda it arrived yesterday, it looks like the ones I have, I had to use my magnifying glass to see how to thread it, maybe take it to Lesley tonight and get her do do it,     

Oh well, I tried, Billie! As I said in my note, it is a bit difficult to open up at first, but once you start having thread in it it develops a little bit of a smile so you can open it easier. The 'eye' is almost the whole length of the needle, so easy to thread once you've got it open. Also useful if you're coming to the end of the thread just as you're almost finished a row, or whatever: you can put the thread up close to the work, knowing that as you pull it through the thread will move all the way up to the end of the needle.

Lynda

Oh okay thanks for that going to have a go tomorrow, got shopping to do today.