How to Ensure Needles face exactly forward?

[Stitch Up]

Seems I'm the only one starting threads in the embroidery section :)

While stitching out the 47,000 stitch design!!!! The thread is fraying sometimes and eventually breaks. When re threading I have noticed the eye of the needle isn't facing exactly forward, I know it should be a few degrees off. Could this be the cause of the fraying?

How do you guys ensure the eye of the needle is facing forward - or slightly off as recommended? Perhaps one's eye should be good enough - just wondering.

Regards

John

[Earl Smith]

Hi John. As we are getting older its getting harder to aline the needles. ( Speaking for myself, naturally).
How do I do it? I have a strong light to the front and a piece of white card behind. And a maginfying glass to look through. (yep, getting old).
Then I use my eyes to line it up. When you push a thread through it should go straight back. I do, however, offset the needle by a very small amount to the right but I can still see the white card through the hole. I dont know what the offset amount should be but a little seems to help.
The fraying thread I have a suspision come from using old thread that has dried out over the months/years it sits in our cupboards. I have been told to give the cone a light spray of water to freshen it up. Never done this but thats what I was told.

[Stitch Up]

Thanks Earl

Interesting comments :) I guess my eyes are like yours :)

I think the fraying explanation is correct - our threads are old as we stooped doing embroidery for a few years and I just can't bring myself to spend more money replacing threads!!

Cheers

John

[Earl Smith]

I have just read on another forum that it might also be down to old needles.