How To Start Embroidery Without A Knot

Many embroidery professionals find a knot to be unnecessary. The fact that the thread ends can get secured in different ways is enough to justify the aforementioned statement. So, wouldn’t it be great to try embroidery without a knot?

Embroidery gives you a creative license to use knotted designs in different ways. These knotty stitches add texture to your work. Though, knots make the backside untidy. Hence, they often get messily highlighted on its front side.

How To Start Embroidery Without A Knot?

You can make embroidery without a knot by using over stitches and backstitches. It is the matter of your stitching prowess that can create stunning embroidery without a knot.

More so, the knot tails can destroy the elegance of the project. This is where no-knot stitches in your embroidery become appealing. Here’s to reading on to the no-knot methods to preserve your precious stitches over time.

3 Methods To Start Your Embroidery Without Knot

As hand-embroidery doesn’t include a lot of rules, it has become a terrific hobby today. With no-knot designs, a crafter gets freedom for artistic expressions sans the hindrance of too many rules.

But to state that hand-embroidery doesn’t get any better without the involvement of knot-free stitches is a mere understatement. So, as a beginner, knot-free stitches are the easiest to start with.

Therefore, let’s explain the three simple methods before trying your hands on embroidery.

Method 1: No Knots Using Two Strands

Talking about the super-easy and super-fast method, this one tops the list. And for a beginner, this is going to be the easiest method ever learned in stitching. Let’s begin.

Step 1: Cut a Long Strand

Rather than cutting two different strands of floss, what you need is a long strand. Cut it accordingly and fold it in half.

Step 2: Put The Thread Inside the Needle

Now is the time when you require threading those cut ends in the needle’s eye. So, you have to do this in order to keep the folded end of the thread at its end.

Step 3: Pull Thread from Back to Front

As you’d normally do, take the thread alongside the needle from the back to the front of your fabric. Nonetheless, remind yourself not to pull it through. Keep a tiny loop on the fabric’s back.

Step 4: Try Out The First Stitch

For this reason, use the front portion of the fabric. Take the stitch forward. Do not pull the needle; turn this work yet again. Ensure that the needle passes through the back portion’s loop of the fabric.

Step 5: Tighten The Loop

As you pull the thread through its loop, tighten it up. Thus, it creates a chain embroidery stitch of sorts around the thread.

Step 6: Ensure The Thread is Secure

As you start stitching, be doubly sure that the thread is secure on its back portion without tying a knot. Continue with the stitches until you get a complete line.

Method 2: No Knots Using Isolated Stitches

Isolated stitches like single French knots are really appealing to a designer’s eye. However, embroidering with a dark-colored thread and the light-colored fabric becomes unsightly on its front. Thus, avoid knots with this method.

Step 1: A Waste Knot

On the fabric’s top portion, start with the waste knot. Upon then, bring the thread and needle to its front. Choose the position where you want to do the knot. You make a small stitch where you wish to work with isolated stitches.

Step 2: A Stab Stitch

Now is the time to make a small stab stitch over your first one, just like the cross-stitch.

Step 3: Crossing Over the First

After this, you will need to cross over your first stab stitch. Work on another stab stitch.

Step 4: Sink the Stitches Flat to Your Fabric

For this, you will have to pull the stitches. Do not use extra pressure to make it too tight to distort.

Step 5: Work on the Stitch By Bringing Thread to Its Front

Work the French knot over a dot. Bring the needle to its front on one side. Hence, wrap the thread around your needle for the knot. Take the thread to its back on another side of the stab stitch spot.

Step 6: Pull Thread to Get a French Knot

When you pull the thread, you’ll get a perfect knot sitting over the dot. But that’s not the end of the story!

Step 7: Run the Needle Under The Stitch

Now, all you require doing is to run the needle underneath your stitch behind that French knot. Thus, trim those threads close on the backside of the chosen fabric.

Step 8: Trim The Threads

Both the working and waste knot threads must get trimmed properly. Snip them up close to the French knot’s back.

Method 3: No Knots Using Any Thread

So, to get working with any thread, here are your simple steps to getting your hands on no-knot embroidery with any thread according to your preference.

Step 1: Thread The Needle As Always

To get started, thread your needle as you’d otherwise do. After this, tie a knot at its end.

Step 2: Take The Thread and Needle Down Into Your Fabric from Atop

Here, keep one-inch distance from where you insert the thread into the fabric from its top. Remember, you’ll have to leave a knot atop the fabric.

Step 3: Move Down To Your Starting Point

As you move your design to the starting point, bring the thread to the front and take one small backstitch over the thread (one or two, anything).

Step 4: Make 2-3 Backstitches

Here’s your goal is not only making two to three backstitches but also to work towards the starting point. Ensure that the backstitches pass through 1-2 fabric threads.

Step 5: Bring The Thread to the Front

Upon having two or three decent backstitches, it’s time to pull your thread to the front side at the starting point. Now, start stitching towards that knot. Stitch the thread in such a way that it comes at the design line’s beginning.

Step 6: Stitch Over The Backstitches

Now, it’s time to stitch over the backstitches as if they do not appear. The line of stitches shall totally cover them.

Here, you do not require paying extra attention to it. But make sure that you stitch through threads on its back until you progress towards that knot. It’s just an added safety!

Step 7: Pull The Knot’s Tail as You Arrive Near It

After you arrive nearer to the knot, you need to pull up on its tail. Upon then, pull it right away from the fabric’s surface. Trim the surface of the fabric and remove that knot.

Once you trim it, the rest bounces to the back portion. And that’s how the beginnings of the stitching lines look like.

The line appearing on its left is a two-stranded method, while the one on the right is a waste knot having tacking stitches. Thus, both are secure, and neither includes a lump on its back.

Some Quick Tips About Hand Embroidery

Here’s presenting some good tips and tweaks about hand- embroidery before you begin.

1. Understanding the number of thread count is important

2. Pre Washing your fabric is important just to avoid pesky puckering

3. If you are doubtful about your stitch, you can try it out and consider the one that works best

4. Always select natural materials and neutral colors concerning the fabric

What Are The Best Embroidery Fabrics?

There are plenty of embroidery fabrics that you can use. Some of the best embroidery fabrics are linen, cotton, wool, silk, etc.

Which Is The Fastest Method No-Knot Embroidery Method?

The fastest and easiest method is the no-knot method that uses two strands.

As you can see, knot-free methods can give clarity to your design. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about the messy backside, which otherwise would happen with knotted stitches.