How to Embroider: 5 Ways to Start Thread In Hand Embroidery- Video and Step by Step Tutorials

How to Start Your Thread in Hand Embroidery

How you start your thread in hand embroidery can depend on a variety of things: Do you want a knot on the back of the fabric? Will the back of the embroidery be exposed? How many strands of thread are you using? Use this DIY video and step-by-step tutorials to learn 5 ways to start your thread in hand embroidery and why each different start type would be helpful for your next embroidery project.

What you'll need to start your thread:

• cotton fabric

• embroidery hoop

• embroidery thread

• embroidery needle

• embroidery scissors

5 Ways to Start Your Thread Video

5 Ways to Start Your Thread Step-by-Step Tutorials

Loop Start

This is a starting technique that wraps the thread around itself instead of making a knot at the end of the thread. For a loop start, you will need an even number of strands of thread.

1. Take the thread and fold it in half. Thread the two ends through the eye of the needle.

2. Start the first stitch by bringing the needle up through the fabric. When you go back down through the fabric, catch the loop at the other end of the thread. This will stop the thread from coming undone and allow you to start stitching without a knot.

Laid Thread Start

This type of thread start is like couching and takes a little coordination as your work on the front and back of the fabric.

1. Start with an unknotted end of the thread

2. Bring the needle up through the fabric and leave a short tail of thread at the back.

3. As you create the first few stitches, cover the tail of thread along the back. This will secure the tail in place with the stitches made on the front of the embroidery. Trim away any excess thread on the back if needed.

Covered Stitches Start

This type of starting technique is great for areas that will be filled in.

1. Start with a threaded needle that has no knot at the end.

2. In the center of the section, create a few short seed stitches close together.

3. The seed stitches should cover the tail end of the thread.

4. Once the thread is secured, start filling in the rest of the shape with whatever stitches are desired. I’ve found this technique helpful for starting in sections that will be filled in with long and short satin stitches.

Quilter's Knot Start

I like to use the quilters knot when knotting the end of my thread to start stitching. The quilters knot is a little funky when you first learn it but makes a solid knot all at once.

1. Thread the needle, making sure one side of thread is shorter than the other. Hold the needle pointy side up in your dominant hand, with the shorter side of thread toward your palm.

2. Pinch the very end of the long end of thread and cross it in front of the needle, making a small plus sign/cross.

3. Pinch the thread and needle between your thumb and finger that is holding the needle. Keeping this in your dominant hand. Note- wherever you cross the thread in front of the needle is where the knot will end up.

4. In your non-dominant hand, you’ll have a loop of thread. Pinch the top of the loop about 4 inches away from the needle. Wrap the thread around the needle three times. You can wrap in any direction. Tug the thread so that it’s tightly wrapped around the needle.

5. Pinch the wrapped thread between your thumb and finger that is holding the needle. Let go of the loop of thread in your other hand.

6. Continue pinching the thread wrap as you pull the needle up, sliding the wrapped thread down the needle and along the length of the thread. Grab the needle at the eye as you pull so that the needle doesn’t become unthreaded.

7. Keeping pinching the thread wrap until you get to the end of the long end of thread. This will create a knot! Trim any excess thread after the knot.

Waste Knot

A waste knot is another knot that sounds exactly like it is. It helps keep the back of the fabric smooth without any extra knot and bumps. I found this technique helpful when creating the 3D petals out of the woven picot stitches.

1. For this style start, create a knot at the end of the thread.

2. Then start by bringing the needle in from the front of the fabric on the outside of the final shape the be stitched.

3. As the shape is stitched, the long tail on the back will be covered with stitches.

4. When finished, trim the knot on the front of the fabric. Then trim any thread tails on the back.

Looking for more helpful embroidery tips, supplies, and hands-on workshops?

Workshops

Join Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ for a hands-on workshop! Melissa makes hand embroidery easy with a wide variety of embroidery classes. Classes are beginner-friendly to advanced and will walk you through a wide variety of stitches, techniques, and designs.

Find all upcoming workshops at: https://www.mcreativej.com/upcoming-seattle-events

Embroidery Books

Want a great hand embroidery reference? Try one of Melissa's hand embroidery books! Each book is great for beginners and breaks down materials, stitches, techniques, and projects for you.

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