Okay, let's see..... For some reason I couldn't post a reply or new message for a while and I really wanted to reply to a few things. Welcome to the newcomers, glad to see every one else. (I could 'see' all along, just couldn't say anything.) Hope the upcoming surgery/surgeries go well for all concerned.
There have been some wonderful quilts finished and posted..... love them all.
Now, About the needle threaders/needles issues. I finally broke down and bought one of the Clover Desk Needle Threaders when I broke 2 of the wire type (*not* cheap ones either. sigh) in about a week and a half. One thing about the CDNT is that it works on oval eyed needles, not round eyed ones. Very important distinction. And needles.... I have discovered that I really like the Roxanne size
11 quilting/betweens needles. They have a bit larger eye than the 12s but are not significantly larger other wise. For other hand work I decided to try the Roxanne applique needles. Love them. They don't have a size indicator, but are fine and strong enough that I don't turn them into a curved needle easily. They have oval eyes so I can use the Desk Threader (although occasionally it takes more than one try to get the thread through the eye. but a lot faster than without it. )Another tip for all of you. A tool to add to your machine tool kit. Chenneille (Spelling????) stems, aka pipecleaners, but not the ones used to clean out pipes. Bend the stem in half or part way down or whatever, and it gets way down around all the parts of the bobbin/ shuttle area. It will just grab the lint/dust and lift it out gently. Clean it off and keep going. You will be amazed at what you can find with one of them. Always bend it so you don't but a "raw wire edge" down into the machine. That might cause burrs and such. (I like having lighter colored ones that I can really see the lint and stuff against. Bright colors don't disappear in the kit as easily. )
Don't remember any other things to mention at the moment.... but hopefully I will stay able to reply when the mood strikes.
Have fun, and help me celebrate tomorrow.... Pati, in Phx