This quirky little tool will quickly become your favorite for hiding stray threads! While researching our recent hot tip on burning thread tails to remove them, I found a YouTube video by Embroidery Nurse. In it, Kelly Payne, a pediatric nurse from North Carolina, showed how to use this tiny wire tool, called a Snag Nab-It. Made by Dritz to fix snags on knit fabrics, the genius gadget works beautifully to pull thread tails, trimmed jump stitches, and thread loops to the back of your machine embroidery, too.
It looked so useful that I purchased one from JoAnn Fabrics on sale and with a coupon for less than $2.
It has a pointed needle on one end while the other end looks a lot like a mini drill bit.
Even if you trim jump stitches as you go, stray ends sometimes pop up. It is extremely easy to pull those stitches to the back of your embroidery and gives your machine embroidered projects a professional finish.
How to Use the Snag Nab-It
Start by inserting the needle end into the fabric right where the stray thread is showing. Push the Snag Nab-It it to the back side of the fabric and the corkscrew end will pull the thread right through.
If you have a difficult time trimming tiny jump stitches in text, the Snag Nab-It is particularly useful. Note: This was one of my test sews. You can see that I had a problem --bobbin thread was showing on top.
Just clip the jump and pull the thread to the back.
The Snag Nab-It works well with those wild loops that sometimes show up during embroidery as well as thread mishaps that happen during sewing and quilting. You can use them on your clothing, too, so keep one in your purse and a couple in your sewing room.
What are your favorite machine embroidery tools?
Debbie Henry
Sew Inspired by Bonnie
Debbie Henry - May 26, 2024
Great idea, Georgianne, thanks for sharing! The woman on the video I saw showed her needle bent. She said they bend easily. I can’t believe I haven’t heard about this before now!
Debbie Henry - May 26, 2024
Good idea, Kay. I have a feeling I will want several!
Debbie Henry - May 26, 2024
Great idea, Suzanne, thanks for sharing!
Suzanne Bruey - May 20, 2024
I keep a lint brush near my machine. I tear off a pc and use it to pick up any stray threads I’ve cut off instead of unhoping.
Kay Haynes - May 20, 2024
I took a class a few years ago, they introduced us to this little tool. I bought 2 I absolutely love them.
Georgieann - May 20, 2024
I have used this tool for so many years when sewing until mine was actually bent and needed replacing…lol. When I started to machine embroidery about 15 years ago, this little gem came in so handy to this day! A little tip from experience…keep the needle in the container, and replace it each time you use it to prevent getting lost. I color taped the little container too so it was easily spotted in with my other sewing supplies.