My Nana, when I was little would pull out the needle and thread, after threading it she stabbed the needle into the end of a pencil. This is done for the lead in the pencil she told me. she would then, while being very still dangle this pencil over the womans left wrist. A circle for girls straight line for boy and if it doesn't move it means unfortunately miscarriage or stillborn, she predicted for me when i was a child so far it's been correct. She me told this also, in a pinch it's great for a makeshift pendulum.
