Tools -- Trolly Needle.

What's your favorite needlework tool?  There are a lot of them.  There are the "usual" -- scissors, hoops, scroll frames, even slate frames.

Have you used a Trolley Needle* though?

The Trolley Needle is a particular kind of laying tool.  It is used to control the thread as you work with it.  
 It looks like an odd open thimble with a needle sticking out of it.

Mainly because it is.


 It sits on your thumb (the open back makes it adjustable) so while you work you can manipulate it.  I wear mine on my left thumb, which is my non-dominant hand.

For this example stitch, I have the fabric in a small hoop.  It also works nicely when working on a hoop or frame being held by a stand.  With some practice, it can be used when stitching "in hand" as well.

Here is the progression of working with the Trolley Needle.  It is very similar to working with any laying tool, the difference being that only your thumb needs to move and, as long as you are careful, you can do other things with it on your thumb. Others may not have the same problem I do with hand held laying tools -- I constantly put it down, and have to search for it!

Place the needle portion over the line of the stitch and bring your stitching needle up next to it.

Plunge the needle back into the fabric where the stitch next goes.

Pull the stitch over the Trolley Needle.... 

Gradually pulling the Trolley Needle out from under the stitch. 

Here I've separated the threads, but the laying tool helped keep them side by side instead of twisting around each other.

Using a Trolley Needle, or other laying tool, helps keep your stitches plump and smooth -- they fill the area nicely.  They are particularly useful for satin stitch, but even for split stitch and stem stitch they are useful.  One thing I particularly like about using the Trolley Needle is that if I need to, I can then pull that stitch out of the way just a touch for coming up on the next stitch for a stem stitch.

So, what is your favorite "not the usual" needlework tool?"

* Note, the link is to the entry on Amazon.  This is not an endorsement of Amazon particularly, and many local needlework stores and other on line vendors carry the Trolley Needle. Amazon was an easy link, that's all.