Cross Stitch Tip...

We all know knotting our thread when doing cross stitch is a huge NO NO. We all know that it can be a tedious task to keep the end of our thread securely tucked under our first few stitches to secure the loose end, right?

Well I thought I'd pass on this little knotting trick. Some of you may already use this method, but for those of you just beginning, I thought you'd like to give this little trick a try. This method only works when you are using 2 strands of floss.

So, here goes....

Pull out approximately 24" of floss from your floss skein and cut. Separate out just 1 strand of floss (yes 1 strand, not 2). We are now ready to begin. Remember you can click on the photos below to enlarge them for better viewing if necessary.

Bring the 2 cut edges of the floss together, having cut edges even.

Thread these two cut ends through your needle. So you have one continuous piece of floss with cut ends going through the eye of the needle, forming 2 strands for stitching.


Let's begin to stitch. Bring your needle up at your beginning location of the cross stitch.


Before pulling thread all of the way through, poke needle down into linen forming half of your cross stitch.

Now flip your linen over to the wrong side...

see the little loop?
Now run your needle through the loop, pulling thread until it is tight up against the linen.

And that is it! Your thread is now secure on the backside of your work without knots or tucking loose ends of floss under stitches.

With thy Needle & Thread,

Brenda

P.S.
I've received a couple emails asking if this knotting method works with the hand dyed threads. I DO, I use this method with hand dyed flosses that have subtle changes in color. The piece I'm currently working on (picture below) is using Weeks Dye Works flosses and with this knotting method. But you want to keep your thread on your needle relatively short in length (12" or so). I still complete each cross stitch before moving onto the next as you would with the regular knotting method.

Here is the effect of hand dyed floss using this knotting method...