I want to do a little hand sewing.
How do you tie a knot in the thread when you're finished with a seam or whatever, so that the knot is close to the fabric and does not pull out?
Pictures would be a great help.
Thanks.
--- Joe
I prefer an actual knot at the end of a line of hand stitching, although some will recommend taking several tiny stitches on top of each other instead. But my mother taught me to make secure knots.
When I make a finishing knot, I take a tiny stitch right where my sewing ends *but leave the needle in the fabric*. Next, take the thread which is coming out of the fabric, (not the thread in the eye of the needle), wrap that thread around the pointed end of the needle two or three times very tightly (so that they are right up against the fabric), and holding your thumb on top of those wrapped stitches, pull the needle (and thread) out the length of the thread. Be sure you hold those wrapped stitches down tight, right where they are wrapped around the thread (they were wrapped around the needle), that's what forms the knot. Then, take a small stitch, pull tight, and clip the thread close to the fabric. I know this is hard to wrap your head around, but if you practice it a bit it may become clear.
I did find this pdf file with an illustration which sort of shows what I mean, although they go about it in a slightly different way:
It's about the middle of page two.
HTH,
Beverly
An embroidery knot is a variation on this. Take the needle through the fabric and pull the thread through until a loop is formed just before you pull it tight. Put the needle through the loop and repeat this action of pulling up the thread to form a loop and putting the needle through it for as many times as you feel is enough. 3 times should be enough but I sometimes do it 5 or 6 times.
Maybe I'm just lazy but I take several tiny stitches inthe same place, then cut the thread. It has been working for me.
Kirsten
That's the way I was taught to tie off seams, too, Beverly.
I back-stitch the last half inch or so.
Where that isn't feasible -- bar tacks, for example -- one can work two or three buttonhole stitches over the thread on the back.
I once wrote an essay on this topic, and posted it at:
Joy Beeson
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