5 ways to start thread in hand embroidery

Usually, when you open a book on hand embroidery, the first thing you see is the "theory" part: how to choose fabric, needle, and thread. Naturally, it is very important! But as for me... I think if you want to start hand embroidering the first thing you need to learn is how to start your thread and get going. Because you can get quite a good grasp on which fabric and needles are better already in the process. That's why I prefer starting with practice and polishing my experience and knowledge with theory later.

So, take a needle, thread and a piece of fabric (this will be a practice session so I wouldn't recommend using anything too fancy, though) and let's start.

Here are 5 ways to start your thread:

1. Knot
2. Waste knot
3. Anchoring stitches
4. Starting 2-stranded thread with a loop
5. Starting thread on previously laid stitches

Knot

There are various ways of tying knots on the end of the thread. I use the same one since I was little – I wrap the end of the thread around my pointer finger making a loop and then slide it with my thumb, pulling the thread at the same time. It is quite easy once you get used – it takes only a fraction of a second. However, if it doesn't work at all for you, you probably might want to check other methods of making a knot at the end of the thread.

Starting the thread with a knot is probably the easiest method, but at the same time, costly. To be precise, it costs the "elegance" of your backside. You can take a look above on how it might look.

Apart from that, this little "bump" can bring some inconvenience when you want to mount or frame your embroidery, as it can be noticeable from the front. Some also say that these knots can untwist, which means the thread would lose its ground. I can't judge about that because, personally, have never encountered this problem.

In my mind, if you're just starting out with hand embroidery, you can take it easy and use knots for a while. Later you will notice yourself some disadvantages of this method and will want to have a "tidier" backside. And in this case, you can use any of the methods below. 

Waste Knot

This way of starting thread includes making a knot as well, except that later you can get rid of it so there won't be anything unnecessary left on the backside.

First, make a knot at the end of the working thread. Next, bring the needle down through the fabric at a certain distance from the starting point of your embroidery. The distance should be at least a couple of inches. Note, that you are leaving the knot on top of the fabric this way.

Next, you can choose one of the two following scenarios. Either you start stitching, at the same time couching the thread on the backside (meaning, keep the waste thread under the stitches you are going to lay). Or you can simply forget about the knot and proceed to stitch but when you finish, snip the knot and hide the tail of the thread under the stitches. Both of these methods will leave your backside clean with no bumps.

Check the post on how to end thread to understand better how to hide the tail of the waste thread.

Anchoring stitches

This one doesn't require any knot at all and is probably the “cleanest” way of starting the thread. I prefer using it when I use long-short stitching and other surface covering stitches, as they allow to hide the anchoring stitches perfectly. 

The principle is as easy as it can be. You simply make a couple of running stitches in close proximity from the starting point of your embroidery.

The main thing to remember is that you can use anchoring stitches in the place that will be covered by stitching later.

Bring the needle up somewhere close to the point of starting your embroidery.

Leave a little tail on the backside.

Make a couple of tiny stitches one beside the other. You can even lay one and pierce it with another one, like in split stitch.

And then just go to the starting point of your embroidery.

If you need to work only a line, you can use anchoring stitches there too.

They will be covered by your embroidery well.

Starting 2-stranded thread with a loop

This method fits only those situations when you need to use 2-strands of thread! Well, 4 and 6 strands (even number) will fit here too, but since this blog is for fine hand embroidery, I will not mention that.

The first trick is in how you thread your needle. You need to take 1 strand and thread both of the ends in the needle so that you have a loop on the other side.

Next, you bring the needle down from the front of the fabric in close proximity of where you will start stitching. Remember, that just like with anchoring stitches, this method can be used only in places that will be later covered with stitching.

Leave the loop on the front side and come up through the fabric close to the first point. Then slide the needle through the loop...

...and anchor it.

As you see, you get a teeny tiny lazy daisy stitch there.

It will be easily covered by your stitching, keeping your backside tidy and clear from any bumps.

Starting on previously laid stitches

As I mentioned above, I am, personally, a fan of anchoring stitches. But they can be used at places which are yet free from stitches. What do you do, if you already laid some stitches at a certain area, and it is already fully covered, but you need to add some more?

In this situation, you can use a waste knot, definitely. A textbook case. But for some reason, I am not so much of a fan of that method, in general. So I secure my thread on juxtaposed stitches.. and it is something I've never seen in textbooks or any other tutorials, to be honest. But it works for me, so I'm sharing it with you :)

Remember how we end thread by sliding the needle under some stitches and making a knot? Same thing here, but to start it.

First, slide the needle under some stitches. Here I've previously laid long and short stitching, so I slide under quote a few - this layer of stitches holds thread well. But if you're dealing with a line, or something similar, just slide under a couple of stitches.

Then, as you slide your 2nd or 3rd time, bring the needle through the loop.

A knot will form and in many cases, it will pretty much enough to secure your thread. Tug at the thread lightly to see how firmly it is secured. If you feel like it is not enough, then slide the needle under one more stitch/make one more knot. These knots are tiny and don't create any inconvenient bumps, so it is okay to make 2.

Personal insight:

• I usually use anchoring stitches as a way to start thread. That's just what I got used to and feel most comfortable with. If the area is already filled and there's no free place, then I secure my thread on juxtaposed stitches like in the last example. 

• When I do some practice stitching that I don't plan on mounting, I feel free using simple knots. 

• Waste knot with couching is my least favorite way of starting threads because it is a pain to flip the piece upside down over and over, as I make sure that I'm doing the couching diligently. However, if you practice a lot, you might develop a good feeling of the backside and won't need to check it all the time. 

• Waste knot without couching is also a little bothersome for me because I always feel like I should have left the knot somewhere further away as the waste end of the thread is often not enough for me to maneuver and end it comfortably.

• As you stitch you start and end thread all of the time, so it is natural for these little tails to be all over the place like in the last picture. Actually, the "tails" that I'm leaving many would consider too long. But I just trim them in the very end after washing and ironing. 

Which ways of starting embroidery do you prefer the most? Do you have your own tips? Please share in the comment box!