A hollow-barrel needle uses a threader through the barrel and then the needle eye. An open-channel needle uses its slot; keep yarn free to move in either tool.
Keep fibre feeding freely through the tool.
Hollow-barrel tools
Pass the wire threader from the needle tip through the barrel until the wire appears at the handle.
Put yarn or floss through the wire loop. Pull the threader back through the barrel.
Pass the threader through the small eye at the needle tip. Catch the strand and draw it through the eye.
Leave a loose tail and pull a little yarn through by hand. It should slide without sticking.
Oxford open-channel tools
Hold the tool with its channel facing you.
For a regular point, pass the yarn through the eye near the tip and draw a loose tail.
For a fine Oxford point, pass the yarn through the screw-eye at the end of the handle first, then through the tip eye.
Lay the feed yarn along the channel. Pull it backwards and down from the handle end so it settles into the slot.
Pull gently back and forth to check that the yarn moves freely. Keep the ball away from the frame and draw out slack before punching.
When threading is difficult
Trim frayed ends before feeding the threader.
Reduce the strand count or choose a larger bore when the strand catches.
Check for knots in the yarn and yarn trapped under your arm or around the frame.
Replace a bent threader rather than forcing it through a narrow needle eye.
