Starting and finishing a thread without knots: 3 methods for cross stitch
Knots have no place in cross stitch. They show through as bumps, come loose in the wash and catch on the next thread. There are three better ways.
Method 1: The loop start
The loop start is the neatest method and works whenever you stitch with an even number of strands. For two strands, take one single strand twice as long and fold it in half.
- Thread both loose ends together. A loop forms at the other end.
- Come up from the back and leave the loop on the back.
- Make the first half stitch and pass through the loop on the back.
- Pull gently. The thread is secure, with no knot at all.
Method 2: Stitching over the tail
With an odd number of strands, leave about an inch of thread on the back and hold it with your finger in the direction you are stitching. The first four or five stitches run over the tail on the back and hold it in place.
Method 3: The waste knot
Tie a knot at the end of the thread and go down from the front an inch or two away from your starting point, so the knot sits on the front. Stitch towards the knot, over the thread on the back. When you get there, cut the knot off.
Finishing off neatly
Run the needle under four or five stitches of the same or a similar colour on the back and trim the thread close. Dark thread should not end under light stitches, as it can show through.
Finish off as soon as about a needle’s length of thread is left. With less than that, pulling through becomes fiddly.
Small rules for a flat back
- Thread length: about 18 inches. Longer threads twist and turn rough.
- Pull strands from the skein one at a time and put them back together. They then lie more smoothly side by side.
- Do not jump across more than three or four squares. Finish off and start again instead.
- Let the needle dangle now and then so the thread can untwist.
Frequently asked questions
Why do you not use knots in cross stitch?
Knots show as bumps once the piece is framed, can come undone and catch on the thread while you stitch.
Does the loop start work with three strands?
No. It needs an even number of strands because one strand is folded double. With three strands, stitch over the tail instead.
How long should the thread be?
About 18 inches, roughly from your wrist to a little past your elbow. For the loop start, cut twice that length.