Cross Stitch:  How NOT to Knot

How to Start and End Your Thread.  Most cross stitchers will agree that knotting your thread is not good form.

On Aida cloth a knot will pull through, and on linen it will create a visible lump. I can give you two NEW  

ideas on how to start your thread in a way more secure than the "standard" way.

      First, what is the "standard" way? Everybody I know starts and ends their thread the same way: on the wrong

side of the fabric, sew under 3 or 4 consecutive stitches like in the picture.
 

Pull the needle through and trim end.  If you have a choice, it is best to end in an area not adjacent to any

holes you will be stitching in again to prevent bringing any bits of the tail up with a new stitch.

Also on linen, if you have a choice, end the thread in the same direction you were stitching, so you do not pull the

last hole bigger.  Starting the thread the standard way looks the same.  If you already have some stitching, run the

needle under 3 or 4 stitches, or if beginning in a new area with no stitching, hold the tail of the thread on the wrong

side of the fabric while you make the first few stitches over it.  Trim ends if necessary.

      A much more secure way to start a thread is the "waste knot."  It is only possible to use a waste knot with a 

DOUBLE thread.  Say you usually begin stitching with an 18-inch piece of thread. For a waste knot, take a 36-

inch piece of thread and double it by bringing the ends together, making a loop at the midpoint of the thread.

Thread your needle with this loop, and pull it through so the loop is on the side of the eye with the longer thread.

(For the sake of space, the pictures show a much shorter piece of thread!) Bring your needle up in "hole one" and

down in "hole two" of the fabric for your first half cross stitch.  Turn your fabric over to the wrong side

 and pass your needle through the loop.

Tighten and your thread is now secure.

     Last, but not least is a method you can use with a single or double thread.  You can start with a 36"piece of

thread or something smaller if that makes you uncomfortable.  Thread your needle and leave one end much longer

than the other.  Assuming you are right-handed, insert your needle a few inches to the left from "hole one." Bring

your needle up in "hole one" and position the midpoint of the entire length of thread right at hole one.  You will have

a long tail of thread sitting on top of your fabric several inches away from the area you are working.  Begin making

your half cross stitches with your needle as you normally would (do not finish the crosses) until you get to the end

of your thread and end it as usual.  Go back to the tail and pull all of it through to the wrong side, thread your

needle on it, and beginning at the first half cross stitch you made, finish your cross stitches.  End as usual.  The

reason for keeping most of the tail on top of the fabric when you first start working is so you do not accidentally

catch it with your needle on the wrong side.

While we are on the subject of knots in cross stitching, it is worth noting the one exception to ending with knots:

cross stitching on clothing.  For something being laundered regularly you need your threads to be very secure.

After making my knot I will add a tiny drop of Fray-chek to it for extra security.

      When changing color of thread frequently you can almost run out of areas to stitch under to begin or end your

thread in the standard way.  That is the reason-- plus the desire for extra security-- that these other methods can

be desirable.  Happy Stitching!

(picture shows wrong side of a piece with frequent color changes)