No Knot, No Tail

No Knots!

I have a few pet peeves about sewing but my biggest one is tying knots. I have that little bitty sense of dread everytime I have to do it - partly because I can't see up close as well as I used to and partly that I like to make several knots and I hate the angst I have over trying to match them up so they're on top of each other. Anyway, here's a nice little technique for handsewing to do away with knots :)

#1 double your length of thread/floss and thread the *tails* through the eye of the needle; this leaves a loop at the other end of your thread

#2 starting from the back of your fabric, bring the needle up through the fabric to the front side but do not pull all the way through - leave the loop of your thread on the backside

#3 push the needle through to the backside, leaving a small space between your original stitch and this new one

#4 *this is a picture of the backside* after pulling the thread through from the front put your needle through the loop on the back

#5 *this is a picture of the backside* now pull your thread firmly and you are ready to begin stitching!

No Tails!

One of my other pet peeves? Little thread tails poking up through your work ;) I use this technique on my softies/stuffies/stuffed toys.

#1 okay, you've finished sewing up your seams and you've created a knot on the outside of your work

#2 with the tail still attached, reinsert your needle as close as possible to your last stitch and then bring your needle up as far as possible from that stitch (basically the length of the needle but you can scrunch your fabric up on the needle so it will go further)

#3 it should look something like this

#4 now pulling the thread taut, scrunch the fabric up against your last stitch, then snip the thread close to the fabric and let go

#5 voila! no peek-a-boo tails!

I hope this helps some of you and my directions are clear enough. I'll permalink it in a side column for future reference.

Comments

[Sara]

Thanks for the handy tip! It's brilliant :D

[Nancy]

Can you tell me how to do a knot which has a shank, so the ends stand up? Thanks.

[shula]

that is one very clever little trick.

[tasha]

i needed this. just made a sock monkey and i had a hard time with her mouth. thanks!

[Linda]

Oh, this is so great! Knots and exposed tails drive me crazy too. Thanks so much for posting it!

[oscarcat]

Thank you for these two great tips. It's inspiring to know that despite having been sewing for nearly twenty years there are so many things still to learn.

(omg, how has it been twenty years?)

[Kim]

Awesome! And great timing, as I was literally just sitting down to start hand-finishing some quilt binding.

[jes]

Thanks for the hint!!

I am loving the pics. from the Japanese books!

[*jenny]

Wonderful! No more knots! Such a simple solution, but I would have never figured it out... thank you!

[Frizz]

Love the instructions. I will start practicing!! Love your blog!!

[amy k.]

cassi-this is so awesome!! thanks so much for this, the second one I use, but the first one is new to me! wonderful!!

[debra, aka littleblackkitty]

This is fabulous!!! I HATE making knots, too, and this is perfect! Thanks for sharing!

[Nina]

Have I told you lately how much your blog brightens my days? I love being able to peek in on your life and each new posting feels like a little gift, just for me!

[lisa]

fabulous! thank you!

[Gemma Grace]

I sewed for many years before I learned the first technique. Actually, I didn't learn it, rather, I "discovered" it. I was riding the train into the city one day and I was watching an experienced commuter cross-stitching. I was vicariously enjoying her sewing and was especially delighted to watch her start a new thread without making a knot. I've been using the technique ever since and I always send a little thought of thanks off to the sewer-I-never-met. Thank you for passing it on in your clear, precise tutorial :)

[rungirlrun]

Thanks. And here I thought I was clever and made up the second technique...rats. The first one is very helpful and will be in use from now on. Knots are also a pet peeve of mine.

[Berrymom2005]

Cool! I quilt all the time and I've never seen this before! Thanks for sharing it.

[LadyLinoleum]

What a great tutorial! Thank you.

[Dana]

Hey I tried this yesterday and it worked! Thanks so much.

Dana

[Kim C]

I am going to try this! thanks

[kathreen]

great tutorial

[stace]

Thank you so much! Your directions and pictures are so clear!

[susan]

Thanks for the idea.

[Kimberly]

Thank you!

[seaofstars]

what a wondeful tutorial! thank you!