What do you call it?

I think it's called a "dololly?"

Lucille

A DooLolly. The woman who made them died a few years back. Then, IIRC, her husband and someone else (daughter, sister) was making them again. But, they've stopped. However, you can get an expensive version from Compucraft

- costs about $5, has a little resin star on top - pretty much works. And some other designer has been making sterling silver sets that are very similar to the Doololly - costing around $30 for the needle threader and thread catcher. I've only seen them as the set, and we had them in the shop, but I can't remember the company name. If I do, I'll post it.

Ellice

Good heavens! I just use a very fine steel crochet hook. No expense at all - or,rather,very little as I got most of my steel hooks from estate sales.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

I have the "star detailer" - its a handy thing. I think I paid around $5 for it. The expensive ones are lovely, but I'll stick to what I have unless I find one with a ladybug. Cheryl

An ort of thread looped through a tapestry needle works very well, too. As do those needle threaders with the rounded tops.

Elizabeth

Ellice

He that's it - the star detailer. I keep bending them. Oh, well.

Ellice

Finer then a steel size 13 or 14 crochet hook? That I think would be equivalent to about a size 14 tapestry needle.

Lucille

That should read a size 24 or 26 tapestry needle. I really have to proof my stuff before hitting send.

Yup, about that, but with the hook which makes it easy to catch short tails and pull them thru.

Ellice

The very fine crochet hook does have a hook on the end. It looks very much like a miniature of the bigger sizes.

For me I'm usually too lazy to look for the crochet hook so I wind up threading a needle with the end and working it through backwards.

I use a dololly. Frequently. What it is great for is when the end of the thread isn't long enough to use to rethread the needle. I can anchor a very short piece of thread with this tool.

Donna in Virginia

I know the crochet hook has a hook - duh! My bad for not being clear in my response. But, IME, the dololly thing is really a great gadget as it's easy to hold onto, and sneak thru tight spaces, then pull the threads back. I have a needle threader that went with the set, and it's lasted about 7 years! Great thing. Has a fine wire for thru the needle, and a heavier bar in parallel, so you rest the needle against the bar, and it holds it steady. Good thing is it can thread 28s or larger, and I've done some chenille needles with it as well.

Ellice

The star detailer looks very interesting and something I think I would use. If you have them in your shop, please toss one in with my package. If not, let me know and I'll order one somewhere.

Lucille

Will do. I'll be in the shop this weekend as I'm teaching on Sunday. So, your pattern should be there, and I can put it all together.

Ellice