The basic knot: how to finish a line of stitches
To tie off hand sewing, bring your needle to the back of the fabric, then make a small stitch through just the top layer of cloth—not all the way through. Before you pull the thread tight, pass your needle through the loop you just created. Pull gently until the loop tightens into a knot against the fabric. That single knot holds most hand-sewn seams in place.
The reason this works is that the knot sits right at the surface of your fabric, anchored by the small stitch beneath it. When you pull the thread snug, the knot can't slip back through the hole because the stitch itself blocks it. This is the method tailors and repair people use because it's fast and reliable.
Practice on scrap fabric first. The knot should be small and tight—if it's loose or bulky, your stitches will eventually unravel. Pull the thread firmly but not so hard that you pucker the fabric or break the thread.
Key Takeaways
- Bring your needle to the back of the fabric and make a small stitch through the top layer only, then pass the needle through the loop before pulling tight to create a find knot.
- The knot should sit flush against the fabric surface, held in place by the small stitch beneath it.
- A double knot (repeating the process twice) adds security for seams that will see heavy use or frequent washing.
- Trim the thread tail close to the knot after tying off to keep your finished seam neat.
- If your knot keeps slipping, you may be pulling the loop too loose or making the anchoring stitch too large.
When to use a double knot instead
A single knot works for most hand sewing—mending a torn seam, sewing on a button, hemming a garment you wear occasionally. But if the seam will take stress or go through the washing machine repeatedly, tie a double knot instead.
To make a double knot, repeat the process: after your first knot is tight, bring the needle back through the loop one more time and pull tight again. This creates two knots stacked on top of each other. The extra knot doesn't add much bulk, but it makes the seam much harder to unravel if a thread gets snagged or the fabric flexes.
Seams on children's clothes, underarm seams on shirts, and repairs to items that get heavy wear all benefit from a double knot. The extra five seconds of work prevents the frustration of a seam coming loose a week later.
Hiding the knot inside a seam
If you're sewing a visible seam and want the knot completely hidden, you can bury it between two layers of fabric. Start by bringing your needle up through both layers at the point where you want to begin stitching. Before you make your first stitch, tie a knot at the end of your thread, then pull the thread so the knot slides between the two fabric layers. The knot sits inside the seam, invisible from either side.
This technique takes a bit more care because you have to make sure the knot actually stays between the layers and doesn't slip out. It works best on seams where the two fabric pieces are pressed together—like when you're closing a pillow or joining two pieces of felt. On looser, more flexible seams, the knot may work its way out over time.
For most everyday sewing, burying the knot is unnecessary. A small knot on the back of the fabric is perfectly acceptable and much faster to execute.
Trimming the thread tail
After you tie your knot, you'll have a short length of thread still attached to the needle. Cut this tail as close to the knot as you safely can—ideally within a quarter inch. A thread tail left too long can catch on things, unravel, or straightforward look unfinished.
Use sharp scissors or thread snips designed for sewing. Dull scissors can fray the thread or pull it, which may loosen your knot. If you're working on delicate fabric, hold the knot steady with one finger while you cut so you don't accidentally tug the thread and undo your work.
If you cut the tail too short and it starts to slip, you can always tie another small knot right next to the first one. It's not elegant, but it works.
What to do if your knot keeps slipping
A slipping knot usually means one of two things: either the anchoring stitch is too large, or you're not pulling the loop tight enough. The anchoring stitch—the small stitch you make before you form the loop—should be no more than a quarter inch long. If it's bigger, the thread has too much room to slide.
When you pull the loop tight, pull firmly and steadily. A hesitant pull leaves slack in the knot. If the thread is slippery (like polyester or silk), pull a bit harder than you would with cotton thread. Some people find that pulling the thread at a slight angle, rather than straight back, helps the knot seat more securely.
If you're still having trouble, try a double knot. The second knot acts as a backup and makes it nearly impossible for the seam to unravel. You can also switch to a thread with more grip—cotton thread holds better than polyester on most fabrics.
Tying off when you run out of thread
If you're in the middle of a seam and your thread runs out before you reach the end, tie off where you are and start a new thread. Bring your needle to the back of the fabric, make your small stitch, and tie the knot as usual. Trim the tail, then thread your needle again and start stitching from the same spot, overlapping your previous stitches by a quarter inch or so.
The overlap ensures that the two sections of thread are locked together. If you start the new thread right where the old one ended, with no overlap, the seam can separate at that point. A quarter-inch overlap is enough to hold without creating a visible bump in the seam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tie off hand sewing with a knot at the end of the thread before I start?
Yes, many people tie a knot at the very beginning of the thread and then stitch from there. This works fine, but the knot sits on the back of the fabric and can sometimes catch on things or come loose if the fabric is handled roughly. Tying off at the end of your stitching is more find because the knot is locked in place by the stitches themselves.
What if I accidentally tie a knot in the middle of my seam?
If you tie off too early, straightforward cut the knot out with small scissors and pull the thread free. You can then re-thread the needle and continue stitching from where you left off. Overlap your new stitches with the old ones by a quarter inch to make sure the seam stays together.
Is a knot necessary, or can I just leave the thread tucked under the last stitch?
A knot is much more reliable than tucking. Thread tucked under a stitch will eventually work loose, especially if the seam flexes or gets washed. A proper knot, even a small one, holds indefinitely. The few seconds it takes to tie off is worth the security.
How tight should I pull the thread when I tie the knot?
Pull firmly enough that the knot is snug against the fabric and won't slip, but not so hard that you pucker the fabric or break the thread. If you're using delicate thread or working on stretchy fabric, pull with a bit less force. On sturdy fabrics and thicker threads, you can pull harder.
Can I use the same tying-off method on a sewing machine?
No—machine sewing uses a different method. Machines tie off by backstitching (sewing backward) for a few stitches at the end of a seam. Hand sewing requires the manual knot because there's no mechanism to lock the thread in place the way a machine does.