I know it seems silly to record a video about how to tie a sewing knot – but this knot is so awesome it’s worth teaching.
When I’m sewing in public and strangers see me tie this knot – they stop and ask me how I did that. Yes – it’s that cool.
And it’s easy. 🙂
With just a little practice you can look like a sewing superstar.
I’ve heard it called a tailor’s knot and a quilter’s knot – but I just call it my favorite knot. 🙂
I use it for any and all hand sewing that I do – sewing, embroidery, hand quilting, you name it. If it calls for a needle and thread, with a knot in the tail of the thread – this is the sewing knot I use.
Here are all my posts about knots.
- How to Tie a Knot
- How to Tie Off Thread on the Back of Your Embroidery
- How to Embroider with No Knots
Before you knot that thread you need to know how much to use, so here’s one more post that doesn’t really have a better place to live. 🙂 How Many Strands of Thread Should I Use?
Return to the Learn to Embroider main Table of Contents.
Move on to the lessons for the four most basic embroidery stitches.
Love your blog. I got your newsletter about it. I came here to look for your Zibbet shop link, but I don’t see it anywhere on your blog. Maybe I missed it somewhere?
Thanks for checking in! My Zibbet shop is down for some post-holiday maintenance.
I might have missed it somewhere, but is there somewhere you show how to tie off at the end? My embroideries always look lovely on the top and like a mess on the back, especially if I’m changing colors a lot. Someone once tried to show me how to sort of backstitch onto the thread to hold it down on the back, but I found that often worked loose with washing. Is there some special trick that results in tidy looking backs, especially when people are going to see it, as with tea towels?
Shannon – Good question! I usually just thread the needle through some of the stitches on the back of the work. I’m recording video tomorrow and I’ll do one that shows this. I’ll probably have it edited and uploaded later this week or early next.
Wendi, I feel like one of the old comedians who said, “Too soon I get too old, too late I get too smart!” I’m so glad I found your blog in time to learn all this new neat stuff.
Your creative work is amazing, and now it turns out you know how to tie amazing knots as well.
I have been sewing by hand and machine for about a half-century, (gosh that sounds a lot longer than it feels.) My grandma taught me to embroider when I was about 9.
I have to say this little knot you just showed me is just the most clever thing I ever saw.
Thank you, thank you.
Annette
Annette – We’ll have to thank my mother-in-law for the knot. She’s the one who taught it to me!
hi there – this knot is called a tailor’s knot, I’ve been teaching sewing & textiles for over 20 years & this little knot never fails to impress my learners !
I had no idea it had an official name! Thanks Maritza!
Thank you, knots are always a problem!! This should be easy!
Awesome! This is brilliant. Thank you. Sometimes the simplest things are the best.
Lightbulb moment! Love this and will def use it going forward 🙂
I have been sewing over 40 years and this is the best technique for making a thread knot I’v ever seen. That goes to show, were never too old to learn new tricks in sewing.
Thanks everyone!
Thanks. More certain than the method I use, which only works about half the time on the first try.
Found your site through CraftGossip and I will stop by again.
This is just wonderful. I pinned it on pinterest & I’ll be trying it out for sure. Thanks so much for sharing it!
Thanks so sharing it Mel!
Thank you so much for sharing. I have struggled for years to knot my thread and now I can do it in seconds instead of 10mins, what a time saver!
I’m glad it was helpful!
I feel so cool when I make this knot! Thanks again!
Me too! 😉
Thank you! So glad I found you!
omg is that ever easy! THANK YOU!!!
Did you make that up or is there a term for that knot!? kewl
~Monika
My mother in law taught me. I think it’s called a Tailor’s Knot, but I’ve seen another knot called that too so I’m not sure.
Most awesome knot ever
I feel that way every single time I use it. 🙂
I was taught this knot at a dressmaking class about 30 years ago, but I have just learnt from another website a clever way to start off without a knot. If you are embroidering with 2 strands of thread, split off just one and thread both cut ends through your needle. Come up through your work as usual for your first stitch, then when you go back through make sure your go through the loop end of thread on the back and just like magic you have a secure and neat start to your work and no nasty little knot ends. This tip came from Lena Green in Australia, I’m across the pond in England.
I usually stitch with 4 strands of thread – and the knot you described is exactly how I do it when I’m using the extra two strands I pulled off. I wonder why I never thought of just always starting with two strands? *forehead smack*
Wendii – if you’re familiar with this technique, perhaps you could do a video of it? I don’t understand from the explanation. :o( Thanks in advance!
There’s a video in the post. Did it not show up for you?
Wendi love, love, love your site thank you so much!!! Look forward to all your emails and thank you for that engenius threading technique. You know I will be useing it!!
Thanks so much! I’m glad it was helpful. 🙂
My mom did not sew, so I am pretty much self taught. I am learning so much through the computer it is unbelievable. [I have always had dialup until 2 weeks ago] I had seen someone do the knot trick years ago and it looked so difficult, I can’t believe that now I can do it myself and it is so easy. I look forward to your Emails every week, Thank You so very much
Welcome! I’m a self-taught sewist too (from before there was an internet). I’m glad the videos have been helpful! 🙂
What a great video! Sounds crazy, I know. But, I have just spent 8 months making a beautiful baby quilt and now I am learning to “quilt” it. So I am looking for tips on how to tack the backing, basting, and my quilt together. That was a great video and I can use that tip in my embroidery. Love it. And my baby quilt was embroidered, not stitched like quilters do. Thanks for the tip.
Thank you times (x’s) 3 for showing me this knot! I have always wanted to know how to do this knot.
P.S. I love your site.
Terrific and so neat looking!
Thank you so much for helping me FINALLY learn to tie a neat knot at the end if my thread! Your way was so easy I almost didn’t think I was doing it correctly!
Wow tysm really helpful 🙂
Pingback: How to Start Your Embroidery Without Knots – video - Shiny Happy World