Needle-Threading Extraordinary
Thread a No. 6 needle with a couple of yards of fairly coarse cotton or thread, and draw them through until the two ends are of equal length.
Now pass the point of the needle right through the two strands, as in [Fig. 31], and continue pulling the needle as in [Fig. 31a] until the threads have passed through each other and appear a continuous piece, as in [Fig. 31b]. This should have been done before showing the trick to the company. As there will be no knot, it is highly improbable that any one will notice a peculiarity in the thread.
Fig. 31.—Needle-threading—first stage.
Fig. 31a.—Thread passing through itself.
Fig. 31b.—Showing thread as a continuous piece.
You then state that, without looking at the needle, you will thread it with as many strands of cotton as it will hold. Proceed in the following way.
Holding the needle with the point upwards beneath the table, out of sight of yourself and the others, catch one of the threads at a point between the eye of the needle and the point where they pass through each other, as in [Fig. 32], and pull that steadily downwards.
Fig. 32.—Showing point where thread is pulled steadily downwards.
Fig. 33.—Result of thread passed through eye of needle.
Fig. 33a.—Threaded needle complete.
By doing this the invisible knot is passed through the eye, carrying with it two strands, and by continuing this action the knot is passed several times, until eventually a result similar to that shown in [Fig. 33] appears.
Drawing the knot to the bottom of this series of loops, you can then cut off all the ends as well as the knot, and present the threaded needle to your friends as it appears in [Fig. 33a].