How to Use Open-Eye Beading Needles

Learn to use a beading needle.

Beading needles allow you to pull a string through beads to create delicate jewelry, crafts and artwork. Learning to use a beading needle allows you to develop a better appreciation of the level of difficulty required for some of the beaded crafts. Keeping control of your beading needle allows you to participate in the beading craft of your choice and will allow you to string thread through small objects.

Things You'll Need

• Beading needle
• Thread
• Scissors
• Beads for craft

Instructions

1. Cut a length of thread using the scissors. This is the thread you are planning to use with the beading needle. The thread should be long enough that you can work it into your project but short enough that you do not end up with it tangled or dangling in the way of your project. One to two feet of thread should be enough depending on the project.

2. Place the needle in your non-dominant hand. Hold the needle so that the eye is facing up and the sharp point is facing down. Your fingers should be wrapped around the sharp point.

3. Place the thread in your dominant hand. If you are right-handed, the thread should be in your right hand.

4. Lift the needle to eye level and examine the needle for the open eye.

5. Direct the thread through the eye of the needle. The first attempt might take many tries, depending on how small the needle is. Pull the thread so that the needle is in the center of the thread. Hold the needle in one hand and the two ends of the thread in the other hand.

6. Knot the ends of the thread so that the needle does not slip through. The thread will then look like a circle or an oval with the needle dangling at the end.

7. Direct the needle through the bead that you are using for your craft to place the bead on the thread. Place your hand on the bead and hold it steady. Guide the needle through the hole and pull the thread all the way through.

References

• Beadage: Needles