I finally managed to thread my needle . I am currently playing and after an hour I managed to do about 4 inches of a kind of spiral . I plan to just tinker with the rest of the thread and see what effects I get. I think it would have been easier had I not used clear core beads as they are really difficult to see. Watch this space

Chris, next time you thread a needle try this:

Hold the end of the thread in your non-dominant hand, between your thumb and first finger, with the tiniest bit exposed. Place the needle eye onto this smidgen of thread - the thread has nowhere to go but through the eye. Works like a charm every time!

I was going to say that too, but Lynne beat me to it!
(don't worry, it does get easier with practice )

thanks for the tips Amy I'm using the fireline I got from Celias - any tips gretafully accepted

Flatten the end of fireline with flat pliers or in desperation use your teeth!

I find the best trick for threading needles is a magnifying lamp - can you tell I'm visually challenged?!

However if you don't have one of these to hand I find that nymo type thread seems to thread more easily if conditioned slightly (too much and you end up with a gunk covered needle. Ick.).

Chris, this is where those fiskar scissors come in. Although other scissors or pliers will cut fireline, I've found that they kind of splay it a bit, where the fiskars cut it finely, IYSWIM. Flattening the end with pliers, as Lynn suggested, may work to re-flatten it...I haven't tried that way.

Good luck, Celia

The bringing the needle to the thread works woooo
Excuse the terrible pics but this is what I managed - on the left is my attempt at a flowery thing but I couldnt work out which was my last dangle... got it sussed by using a different colour for each part... (see the bit on the right)

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Well done Chris! I'm glad this method works for you.

Good result, Chris. I can actually manage a couple of flowers myself

Celia