Techniques

Starting and Finishing Thread Without Knots

Secure thread on the back of the fabric so the piece lies flat. Knots make bumps and can pull through the holes.

Beginner15 min

Seen from the back: the thread tail lies along the row and the vertical backs of the first stitches hold it down.

What you will learn

Loop start (for an even number of strands): cut one strand 36 in (90 cm) long, fold it in half, and thread the two cut ends through the needle together. The fold forms a loop at the other end.
Come up at the first hole and pull through, leaving the loop on the back. Go down to complete the first leg and pass the needle through the loop on the back. Pull snug. The thread is locked with no knot.
Tail start (works for any number of strands): come up at the first hole leaving a 1 in (2.5 cm) tail on the back. Hold the tail along the direction you will stitch.
Make your first four or five stitches so that each one crosses over the tail on the back and traps it. Check from the back, then trim the spare tail.
To finish: on the back, slide the needle under the backs of four or five stitches of the same colour, pull through and snip close.
To start a new thread next to existing stitches, slide under the backs of four or five stitches first, then come up where you need to begin.

Finish dark threads under dark stitches. A dark tail under light stitches can show through.
Do not leave long tails hanging. They get caught in later stitches.

The loop start will not lock

The loop start only works with one strand folded in half. Two separate strands have no loop.

Bumps show on the front

A knot or a thick wad of ends is behind that spot. Spread finishes out and avoid knots.

Practice exerciseStart one thread with a loop start and one with a tail start. Finish both by burying.