First things first, before you dive into your embroidery project, I’d like to show you how you can start and finish your embroidery thread to secure it.
Traditionally using knots to start and finish your embroidery thread is a big no-no. And there are several reasons for this.
Firstly the knot can show through your embroidery when mounted or be visible when you use thinner fabric that might be somewhat see-through. Knots can also get undone, so there is a danger of your work getting undone as well.
When I still used knots at the back of my work, my biggest bugbear was that I often pulled through the loose ends of the knot when my needle caught the knot, and it was always fiddly to remove those thread ends from the front of my work.
So I leave it up to you whether you want to knot or not. In this brief tutorial, I will show two ways to secure your thread. The waste knot and the holding stitch.
I use the holding stitch most often as I do not have to worry about a thread running at the back of my fabric. You can use the holding knot for most embroidery stitches.
If you use the waste knot method, you will have a thread running at the back of the work. The idea is that you will cover it with stitches while working. But you will have to check the back of your embroidery to make sure you actually cover the thread.
At the end of the tutorial, I will also show you how you can end your work.
Start With A Holding Stitch
To begin the holding stitch, knot your thread.
Stitch 1 – Bring the needle down through the fabric from the surface to the back of the fabric. Leave the knot where it is.
TIP: When stitching a straight line, place the knot approximately 1cm away from where you will start your embroidery. If you work a shape that you cover with stitches, place your knot close to where you will start your work.
Stitch2 – Now place a tiny stitch, not more than over one or two threads of your fabric and bring the needle up to the surface.
Stitch 3 – Move the needle slightly towards the base of your marked line (one or two threads of fabric) and bring the needle down to the back.
Repeat the above steps until you have made 3 or 4 tiny stitches.
Once you have completed your holding stitches you can cut of your holding knot with a sharp pair of embroidery scissors to get a clean cut.
TIP: Before you cut off the knot pull it very gently up. It will then be easier to cut the thread just beneath the knot.
Start With A Waste Knot
As mentioned, when using the waste knot method, you stitch over the beginning length of the thread at the back while working on your design. In the process, you secure your embroidery thread.
The waste knot works best when you use filling stitches that loop around the back. Examples included satin stitch, long and short stitch and cross-stitch. As you’re working, the thread loops around the waste knot thread. You can use outline stitches such as stem stitch and split stitch. But you will need to check the back of your work to make sure the waste knot thread is ‘caught’ by your working stitch.
To start knot your thread.
Stitch 1 – Bring the needle down to the back of the fabric, leaving the knot on the surface of the fabric.
Stitch 2 – Once you have placed the waste knot, bring the needle up to the surface where you want to start your embroidery. The distance between the waste knot and the beginning of your embroidery should be slightly larger than used for the holding stitch. I would use between 1 (0.4 in) and 1.5 cm (0.6 in). This leaves a 1 – 1.5 cm long strand of thread at the back of your work.
You can now start your embroidery with whatever stitch you have chosen. While you work your stitches, you cover the ‘waste’ thread on the back of your work.
Once you have covered the waste knot thread at the back of your work you can cut off the knot at the front. Check the back and see how long the thread is here. Trim it if it sticks out too much.
Finish Your Thread
I use two different methods depending on the design of my embroidery.
Reverse Holding Stitch
Provided I have further stitching to do and can hide my stitches, I reverse the holding stitch method as described above.
For straight line designs I stitch 3 – 4 tiny stitches ahead and cut off the thread at the surface. If I have a shape to fill next to my current stitch line, I place 3 – 4 tiny stitches in the adjacent area that I will cover with other stitches.
Weaving The Thread
If you have finished your work and the thread has nowhere to hide, bring the thread to the back of the embroidery and weave it under four or five existing stitches.
The above method is perfectly fine if you frame and/or hang your embroidery piece. But if the embroidery embellishes a utilitarian item such as a notebook, I would include a little slip knot at the end of your weave to secure the thread further.
To do so weave your needle under the first stitch but don’t pull the thread all the way through so you create a small loop. Thread your needle through the loop and tighten the loop. While you tighten the loop pull it slightly towards your previous weave to secure the loop.
To be on the safe side, I repeat this one more time. Then cut the thread and voila, you are done.
I hope you found these steps helpful.
I created a whole online class with the beginner in mind that covers everything you need to know to get you started with hand embroidery.Learn moreabout what is included in ‘Contemporary Hand Embroidery 101: Foundational Stitches and Techniques’.
If you have a question or comment leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
Happy Stitching!
Are you ready to embroider! Take a look at the following simple embroidery stitch tutorials to get you started.
How to Stem Stitch – a step by step tutorial
How to Split Stitch – a step by step tutorial
I'm an experienced embroidery enthusiast with a deep understanding of various stitching techniques and best practices. Over the years, I've honed my skills through extensive hands-on experience, and I've delved into the intricacies of embroidery methods to achieve clean and professional results.
Now, let's break down the key concepts covered in the provided article on securing embroidery thread:
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Avoiding Knots:
- Traditional knots are discouraged for starting and finishing embroidery threads due to several reasons outlined in the article.
- Knots may become visible through the embroidery or pose a risk of unraveling, especially with thinner fabrics.
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Waste Knot Method:
- This technique involves stitching over the initial length of the thread at the back while working on the design.
- Suitable for filling stitches that loop around the back, such as satin stitch, long and short stitch, and cross-stitch.
- The waste knot thread is gradually covered by working stitches, and it is crucial to check the back to ensure proper coverage.
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Holding Stitch Method:
- This method is preferred by the author for its simplicity and the absence of a thread running at the back of the fabric.
- The holding stitch involves making tiny stitches along the starting point of the embroidery, securing the thread without creating a visible knot.
- The holding stitch is versatile and can be used for various embroidery stitches.
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Starting the Holding Stitch:
- Knot the thread and bring the needle down through the fabric, leaving the knot on the surface.
- The initial stitch is followed by tiny stitches, bringing the needle up and down to secure the thread without the need for knots.
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Ending the Work:
- Two methods are suggested for finishing embroidery work: the Reverse Holding Stitch and Weaving the Thread.
- The Reverse Holding Stitch involves stitching ahead, cutting the thread at the surface, and potentially covering the end with additional stitches.
- Weaving the Thread is recommended for situations where the thread has nowhere to hide, involving bringing the thread to the back and weaving it under existing stitches.
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Additional Tips:
- When cutting the thread, pulling it gently up before cutting makes it easier to achieve a clean cut.
- The article emphasizes the importance of checking the back of the embroidery to ensure proper coverage of the thread.
In summary, the article provides valuable insights into starting, securing, and finishing embroidery threads using techniques such as the waste knot and holding stitch. Additionally, it offers practical tips for achieving a clean and professional result in hand embroidery projects.
