Figure 8 hinges date way back to my CL days in the 50s and 60s only we used carpet thread.

I get the Kevlar at a sporting goods store in the fishing section. It's Kevlar leader or something. Yellow colored. Never breaks.

I get big needles at a sewing place.

I usually drill 1/16" holes opposite to each other in the surface and the control. Go down through the surface, then up between the surface and control, then down through the control, up between and back and forth a few times. I usually hit the holes with medium CA.