Meta description – Learn how to start an embroidery stitch in simple and easy ways and enjoy DIY tailoring on different clothes and suits without any hassle.

Many tutorials on hands embroidery can be found on the Internet, but how do they start and finish stitching? Most of the time, it remains a secret. The stitch can be started and finished in many ways in hand embroidery.

We’ll reveal how to start and end an embroidery stitch and discover all the possibilities.

In embroidery, knots are generally discouraged for beginnings and endings. This is due to a variety of reasons.

If you use thinner fabrics that might be see-through, the knot might show through your embroidery when mounted. Your work can also become undone due to untied knots.

In the past, I had trouble removing the loose thread ends from the front of my work when I used knots at the back of my work, and I often pulled through the knot as I pulled my needle through it.

So you have the option to knot or not. In this tutorial, I will show you two methods for securing your thread: holding stitches and waste knots.

My favorite holding stitch method is the holding stitch because it does not affect the thread on the back of my fabric. Almost all embroidery stitches can be held with a holding knot.

A thread runs behind your work if you use the waste knot technique. While you’re working, you’re going to cover the panel with stitches. But you need to make sure you cover the thread on the back of the embroidery.

Knot your thread at the beginning of the holding stitch.

Stitch 1 – From the surface to the back of the fabric, bring the needle down through the fabric. Be sure to leave the knot in place.

Place the knot approximately 1cm from where you will begin embroidery when stitching a straight line. Place your knot close to where you will begin stitching if you are covering a shape with stitches.

Stitch 2 – Using the needle, bring the needle up to the surface of your fabric and leave a tiny stitch, not more than a few stitches.

Stitch 3 – As the needle moves toward the base of the marked line (bringing the needle down to the back), the fabric will separate from the threads.

Make 3 or 4 tiny stitches by repeating the above steps.

Using a sharp pair of embroidery scissors, you can cut off your holding knot once your holding stitches have been completed.

It would be best if you pulled the knot gently up before cutting it. When the thread is cut below the knot, however, it will be much easier to unravel.

You stitch over the beginning length of the thread at the back of your design when using the waste knot method. The embroidery thread is secured during the process.

Using looping filling stitches around the back of the waste knot will make it work best. You will see your thread loop around the waste knot thread as you work. Stem stitches and split stitches are examples of outline stitches. The waste knot thread will have to be captured by the working stitch on the back of your work.

Stitch 1 – Knot the fabric on the surface by bringing the needle to the back of it.

Stitch 2 – Bring your needle to the surface where you want your embroidery to begin once you have placed the waste knot. When you place the waste knot, you should leave some distance between the knot and the beginning of the embroidery. My recommendation would be between 1 cm (0.4 in) and 1.5 cm (0.6 in). A single strand of thread approximately 1 – 1.5 cm long will be left behind.

After choosing a stitch, you may now begin embroidering. Your stitching process involves hiding the waste thread at the back of your work.

As soon as you cover the back of the knot, you can cut it off at the front. Take a look at the thread on the back. If it’s too long, trim it.

As soon as you are done gathering basic things, now it’s time to go on with the actual task, so let’s begin with it:

Finish Your Thread

There are two different methods I use to embroider my designs.

Reverse Holding Stitch

The holding stitch method is reversed as described above if there is additional stitching to be done, and I can conceal my stitches.

If I am stitching straight lines, I will stitch 3 – 4 tiny stitches ahead of the surface and then cut the thread. As a rule, if I have an area adjacent to my stitch line that needs to be filled in, I stitch 3 to 4 tiny stitches in the adjacent area before covering it with the next stitch.

Weaving the Thread

You can weave the thread under four or five existing stitches if you have finished your embroidery and there is nowhere for the thread to hide.

Frames and hanging embroidery pieces make the above method perfectly fine. The weave at the end of the embroidery would be strengthened further with a small slip knot unless the embroidery embellishes a functional item such as a notebook.

Create a small loop by weaving your needle under the first stitch and not pulling your thread all the way through. You will now need to tighten the loop with your needle. During the tightening process, you should push the loop towards the previous weave to seal it.

In case you are still unsure, let me repeat this once more. After cutting the thread, you are done.

When you are starting and learning embroidery basics, it shouldn’t be stressful. If you want to be creative, start small and pick a motif that inspires you. By joining a group of other embroiderers on the Internet, you’ll receive the guidance you need to build your confidence, and then you’ll be stitching away.

Let us know whether these tips have helped you start an embroidery stitch or not in the comment box!

Happy Stitching!