thread a needle using chalk

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I’ve been neck deep in sewing after neglecting it for well over a year. Mostly utilitarian, nothing exciting. And I remembered a tip I wanted to share. I had taken photos back in 2013, months before I even thought of blogging, but never got around to posting.

It’s a simple tip and perhaps common; but I haven’t come across it yet.

A weak eyesight or the thread end dancing to the tune of the fan breeze can aggravate a simple task. My Singer Futura sewing machine has the needle eye facing the front. It was very efficient till I had to start using a needle threader! A very difficult/inconvenient position; see how the threader has bent in the pic below.

So here’s my 3-step solution to threading a needle (dip, snip, swipe) – it works for any kind of needle, though demonstrated for a machine one here.

All we need is a tailor’s chalk and a sharp scissors.

 There is a mix of old (2013) & new (2018) pics, hence the chalk pieces differ.  

1. Dampen about 1 cm of thread end (yeah, I use my tongue – gross but fairly universal).

2. Snip the tip with a sharp scissors to remove any frayed ends.

3. Hold the chalk in right (dominant) hand & thread in left. 

Keeping left thumb over the thread, run or swipe the chalk over the tip from left to right – 

in one direction only. Do this 4-5 times.

The lines made by the thread are clearly visible on the chalk

Voila! Your needle is ready to be threaded very easily, even with the left hand !!!

Once threaded, the chalked end can be snipped off.

Chalk powder stiffens the damp thread, weighs it down a bit, and makes it more visible too!

I use coloured chalks for better contrast.

Other materials : In a pinch, raid your kitchen for some cornflour or rice flour. 

Or, beeswax, candle wax, or a crayon, instead of chalk can be effective.

I still prefer the chalk and have used it to thread handheld needles just as effectively. There are always pieces of chalk (3 different colours) in my sewing organizer and emergency box.

What is your go-to method to thread a needle?

from pin to pin

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Confession : This month I did not work on any project specifically for the pinterest challenge.

Yes, I did make a start with my personal challenge of 2D tatting design, but this post will not talk about that.

Instead, I will fall back upon a few things I have been doing ever since I saw them on pinterest. Please excuse the quality of pics – they were taken back in 2013 (when I was still new to photography) & I don’t even have the unmarked stock pics. I urge you to check out the original posts for the great pics and instructions. Mine don’t do any justice to them, although it has become part of my life.

Healthier Butter

Adapted from Jillee’s One Good Thing by Jillee

It all started with Jillee’s post on how to make your own herb butter.

For daily application, herb butter wouldn’t be accepted in my home, so I skipped the herbs and mixed only butter and olive oil – almost equal amounts.

Mix normal Butter with desired amount of Olive Oil 

(I used approximately equal amounts - 50gm butter + ~50ml olive oil). 

Mix with fork if quantity is less, as in this case, or pulse in blender as Jillee did.  

Olive oil has blended with the butter. Refrigerate and use as normal

I use a stainless steel container with tight lid. This small container easily fits into the bread box sitting cozily beside the bread.

And due to the oil, the refrigerated butter quickly 'thaws' to room temperature when taken out & kept on the kitchen counter. No longer need to Remember to take the butter out earlier !

Besides toast and sandwiches, I sometimes use it for grilling, too – oil gives it the fat, and butter the colour.

Works great in baking too - I use this for cookies, muffins & cake....

Eggless Cake using healthier butter

Basic recipe : Sharmi’s Passions

This was my first attempt at baking an Eggless cake & it wasn't As spongy as my usual cakes (with eggs) although the taste was great. It had a slightly denser feel, which I remedied the next time. I used Sharmi's Chocolate chip cupcake recipe (sans the chocolate chips)  

This pic was taken a few days After the cake was baked – more than half had already been consumed and the remaining pieces relocated into a smaller container. When I remembered, I just took the container out of the fridge and immediately took a pic. Hence the dry, crumbly look.

I have since used the healthy butter in muffins and cupcakes as well. They all bake fine.

Tear Drop Eggless Shortbread Cookies

Recipe adapted from Sharmi’s Passions

I chose a slightly healthier version

1. A mix of APF & whole wheat flour (3:1)

2. A mix of butter & olive oil (the healthy butter above)

3. Only about 75-80 g of the butter & oil mixture.

Frosting would've improved the look, but added calories, hence not applied ;-)

As the visual show, baking is not my forté . My cakes and muffins come out great in taste, but cookies & biscuits have a love-hate relationship with me.

That’s it for this month.

I did overcome a personal challenge by finally being comfortable with designing 2D tatting patterns. Simple and small for now, but I felt the barrier lift. This month will always remain very special to me – my shuttles are actively tatting up little medallions and motifs, yay!

To see some really special stuff, though, let’s all hop over to our talented group (you are welcome to join in any time; simply pick a monthly pin from pinterest !) :

Suzanne

Margaret

Carollyn

Imoshen

Margaret II

happy pinning :-)

Related Posts : my previous pinterest challenges 

Keeping up

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Keeping up with upkeep , with so much tatting around ?! A Herculean task.

That is why the Pinterest Challenge is my ticket to keep at it, albeit at a monthly snail’s pace.

We bought this little wooden ‘antique-look’ chest about 8-10 years back. The brass overlay work was shining, the wood nicely polished . This is used to store hand towels in the bathroom. When an item is new, maintenance is so easy (and age was on my side)! Gradually, with time & eventual negligence, this is how the side facing the bathing area started to look ; the front is in no great shape either (leftmost in top pic). One can’t eliminate water splashes completely, despite the shower curtain ;-(

Easy Wood Polish*

This pin has been on my DIY board for nearly 2 years now. It is among my most re-pinned images.

It was finally time to roll up my sleeves & get to work.

Materials : Oil, Vinegar, rag/towel

Quickly mixed up some vegetable (cooking) oil & vinegar (3:1), gave the jar a shake – it is an emulsion & sat down with a kitchen towel (the fiber roll type). That’s all one needs!

Applied the emulsion with the towel & left it in sunshine (for better absorption).

That’s it! Didn’t even rub it in.

Applying emulsion to left panel

Left panel after a few days

I’m sure if I do this regularly, it will get back all it’s original beauty. With a single application, there has been a marked change. With a few more applications spread over the next few months, the spots should disappear completely. 

TIP : I might even mix in some coffee powder to add colour! 

Top panel immediately after application of emulsion

This was my challenge completed. But the upkeep wasn’t over. The brass needs to be polished, too!

Easy Brass Polish

Simple tamarind paste as brass polish !

Materials : Tamarind Paste/pulp , toothbrush, rag, & water.

I had a few ideas in mind besides Brasso, which I do not like much (this branded brass polish does make the item shine but for a very short duration; and it is all chemical). For vases, etc. I use tamarind pulp. I tried store-bought salted tamarind paste (Dabur Homemade) . The paste worked quickly on the least affected brass parts. 

In the step 2 (top right) of process pic above, I have tried to show 3 areas within the same brass circle for comparison : (in counterclockwise direction) before any application of paste ; with tamarind paste ; paste applied & wiped off. 

More applications required for gunk build-up

The most difficult was the left side again. All that build-up took me many repeats before I realized that if a few drops of water are added after brushing, it wiped away the gunk easily. Repeat application, brushing, adding water, wiping for as many times as required. I think the before/after pics speak for themselves.

TIP : Lemon wedges & citric acid crystals (with a few drops of water) were the other two materials I tried this time. The results are inconclusive – they would work for regular cleaning & polishing, not for old & hard build-ups. I intend to scrub some areas regularly whenever I have a few leftover lemon slices.

With a bit more elbow grease & time, I could’ve done a better sparkling job. But my intention was to start with the upkeep & keep it up in future rather than tire myself out into distaste. I am very satisfied & motivated to regularly maintain the maintenance of this box !

So I’ve moved from the bedroom to the kitchen to now the bathroom. What next ?!

Before we answer that, don't forget to take a tour of what our other 

much more creative pin chicks are up to - 

Suzanne, Margaret, Carollyn, & Alma . 

Join us anytime you like - more chicks the merrier :-)

Related Posts : Jan 2016 Pinterest Challenge

Feb 2016 Pinterest Challenge

How to convert yarn hanks into balls

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Winding Thread Like a Pro …

well almost !!!

A quick, easy, no-nonsense way to convert hanks to balls 

September, last year, I bought 2 hanks of crochet thread/yarn. I prefer branded, pre-wound balls since they are ready-to-use. No winding of thread/yarn is required before one starts a project. Saves time & effort. Yet, I succumbed to some very soft, thin ecru thread with lovely silken texture & purchased 2 hanks.

I don’t know what prompted me – perhaps the Anchor crochet cotton balls I had ….

I decided to roll a strip of cardstock for the centre & wind the thread over this, just as in the store-bought balls.

Well, surprisingly, I had fun winding up the hank ! And as I wound it, I got a bit more creative & turns out, it is extremely easy to wind thread like a pro !!! 
Okay, I didn’t get that good a finish, but if one is just a wee bit careful, the hand-wound ball will be no different than a store-bought/branded one. Unfortunately, I did not have a 3^rd hank; I guarantee it would’ve been, um, exactly like the real thing ;-))

I made a pictorial with the 2^nd hank.

Materials required :

Hank of thread/yarn

Strip of cardstock – less than 2" wide x 7-8" long.

 

Fig. 1 shows the only 2 things required !!!

Roll the cardboard strip into a hollow cylinder. The cross-sectional diameter of this hollow is about ¾". (Fig 2)

Start winding thread normally, around the center of the cylinder. The direction of movement is indicated by red arrow, if one is winding in clockwise direction. Keep the tension of winding yarn 'normal'; it should never be too taut or pulled/stretched!

About 20-25 rolls should suffice to give it some body & act as a ‘holding edge’ for subsequent rounds. (Fig 3)

From now on, it is important to space out the winding : each subsequent round should be adjacent to the previous round, not above it.

Now start winding the thread ‘diagonally’ instead of a simple circle, as indicated by red arrow. (Fig 4)

Continue is this diagonal motion. But after every few winds, turn the cylinder a bit so that the winding thread does not bunch up in one place. (Figs 5, 6)

I found it convenient to insert my left thumb into the hollow & rotating the cylinder as I wound the thread over it with my right hand. (Fig 7)

I have not been very neat. Each round could’ve been a bit closer to the previous one, instead of being so spaced out . But that is extra effort as per moi, especially if only I am going to use it.

 

As you continue winding, you will notice that the distance from the cardstock edge will keep decreasing until finally the cardboard is almost totally covered up. (Figs.  8, 9, 10)

Fig 11 shows both the hanks wound up, one ball per hank.

These next 2 images on the right show a comparison with branded balls.

Notes/Tips :

• I used 2" wide cardstock. It should’ve been a bit less – 1½"- 1¾" is preferable. Then the edges would be completely hidden by the outer rounds of thread, as in the case of store-bought balls. I realized later, that I could've actually snipped away the extra lengths at the sides before I came to the end of the yarn !
• Any old bookmark, cut to correct dimensions, would work as well !
• When winding diagonally, move the thread from one edge to the other while rotating the hollow centre. The thread will remain in place due to the initial bunched-up rounds !
• Never wind over the previous round. Always space it out just a tad; keep the winds adjacent.
• The winding should not be too tight/taut; this will affect the quality & durability of the yarn/thread.
• I wound the thread in clockwise direction. But whichever is comfortable ….
• It is possible to achieve a much better finish.

Unwind as you wind – it’s that easy :-) 

Update : Another post on winding hanks into skeins & related ramblings on yarn & threads, here.