To feed thread through a needle, first, trim the thread end for a clean, narrow point (moistening or angling helps). Then, hold the thread steady and push the needle's eye onto the thread, or use a needle threader tool, or try the paper/hand-rubbing hacks where the eye catches the thread as you move it.
Pull your needle out so that you have a tiny loop pinched between your fingers. Position the eye of the needle over the loop with your free hand and push it down onto the loop so that the loop goes through the eye of the needle. Once it's pushed down far enough, you can grab the loop and pull it through.
A piece of paper about an inch long and half an inch wide folded length ways in half is your life saving needle threader! Just pop the tip of the thread in between the folded paper and thread the paper through the eye of the needle. GENIUS.
Setting up good lighting and taking advantage of tools that offer magnification can improve visibility, reduce eyestrain, and give better results when you do close work. You need it, whether you are hand-sewing, ripping out seams, or clipping threads.
For this, you can try the 20-20-20 rule, which researchers also recommend for combatting digital eye strain. Every 20 minutes, stop sewing, look up, and stare at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. You can use a timer to remind yourself when to take a break from detail work.
If a thread broke while sewing, it was seen as a warning that the project (or even a relationship) was doomed to fail. Some sewers also avoided threading a needle at night, as it was thought to invite misfortune or trouble into the home.
When you ask, “why is my thread looping underneath?”, it's often because the upper thread is on closed tension discs. This happens when the presser foot is down while threading. The thread then has no tension, leading to loops underneath. This is a common issue, more noticeable on lightweight fabrics or shiny threads.