Really basic question....

LOL no you are not missing anything. No different than knotting the end of the thread away from the needle. Either way one has a knot :)

But what is the purpose of the knot? To hold the thread in the eye or to keep it from pulling out of the cloth?

js

Either, depending on whether it is at the tail end of the thread (a larger knot) or up by the needle (small knot).

Yes, both. I haven't seen the instructions you're referring to, but I'd guess that the reason for threading the needle first and then tying the knot is to make sure you get the knot at the correct end of the thread. The knot should be at the end just cut from the spool, to help reduce tangling problems.

To keep it from pulling out of the cloth. The person doing the sewing keeps the thread in the needle eye :)

Arri London Apr 14, 3:02 pm show options

Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles.sewing From: Arri London - Find messages by this author Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 16:02:37 -0600 Local: Thurs,Apr 14 2005 3:02 pm Subject: Re: Really basic question.... Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse

" snipped-for-privacy@schmidl> But what is the purpose of the knot? To hold the thread in the eye or

Ari replies: To keep it from pulling out of the cloth. The person doing the sewing keeps the thread in the needle eye :)

Has anyone here ever noticed a difference in practice?

And is it the end next the spool for *all* threads? Does it switch when thread is wound onto a different spool or bobbin?

I don't knot my thread except for basting -- and almost never then. But if you're still at the stage where you keep pulling the thread all the way out while making the first stitch, a knot is a good idea. I'd shear it off after securing the thread with back stitches, though, as it isn't going to hold anyway.

(And do you spell "basting" with or without an "e" -- it looks wrong both ways.)

Joy Beeson

You drop the e except when you need it to keep a soft consonant soft, as in singing versus singeing.

My understanding is that in handsewing, thread wears better and pulls through fabric more smoothly if it's with the 'nap'. Nap is easily apparent on embroidery floss -- not quite as easy to feel with other threads, but most times I can run a thread through my fingers first one way and then the other, and one way will feel smoother.

Most thread is wound on spools in such a way that knotting the just-cut end ensures most of your stitching will be with the nap. Of course, there's the loose end on which the nap goes the other way, but it gets shorter as you go along.

In the back of my mind I seem to remember reading that some threads are wound on the spool in the opposite manner, so it is a good idea to see if you can tell by feel.

I think 'basting' is correct. : )

Doreen in Alabama

"Drop the 'e' and add 'ing' "...that's the rule I learned:

abide = abiding waste = wasting taste = tasting abate = abating paste = pasting abase = abasing impute = imputing mate = mating

HTH,

True but the OP wasn't asking about that yet :) I rarely use knots either.....