How To Hand Sew: Tying Off

When you're all done sewing, it's important to know how to tie off your thread so that your hard work doesn't come undone. There are many, many ways of doing this, but here I will show you my favorite method.

Step One:

Start off by sliding your needle back underneath your last stitch (on the back side of your fabric, if it makes a difference). Don't go back through the fabric, just go under the thread.

Step Two:

When you pull your thread through, you will create a loop just before you pull it all the way. Slip your needle through this loop before you pull tight.

Step Three:

After slipping your needle through the loop of thread you have just created, you will notice that you have created yet another loop, which you can see in the picture. It is the bottom loop.

Step Four:

Slip your needle now through this second loop as well, before you tighten your thread.

Step Five:

NOW you can finally pull your thread tight. Be careful that it does not tangle itself while you are tightening the thread, or else you may cause your thread to knot before it is close again to the fabric.

Alternatively:

You can also pull your thread tight after Step Two (after you slip your needle through the first loop). You will then simply have to repeat the process once in order to get a secure knot. This is less complicated, but it might take an extra second or two. No big deal!

Here is a link back to the hand sewing directory if you'd like to read more: How To Hand Sew