Hand Quilting? Put A Quilter’s Knot On The End of Your Thread

Tie a quilter’s knot on the end of your thread and sink it into your fabric so you can’t see it

I don’t know what it is about this simple quilter’s knot but it seems to impress others whenever I demonstrate it.

Find more tutorials and videos at Make Bags With Brenda

I use this technique whenever I start off hand quilting or appliqué stitching. The knot is very much like the French knot used in embroidery.

We’ve added video, but you may also follow my husband Rob’s diagram for the quilter’s knot below. (Yes, even he can do it! But he drew the diagram because he only quilts about once a year, and keeps forgetting the simplest things like this knot…) His diagram shows how the knot is used in hand quilting to begin and end the thread by hiding the knots in the quilt batt.

Starting the thread for hand quilting

1. Thread the needle.
2. Choose a length of thread (around 2″ or so).
3. Hold the needle at the eyelet; with your other hand, wind the thread around the shaft of the needle.
4. Now, with the hand holding the eyelet, also hold the winded thread.
5. Pull the needle through with the hand that held the eyelet and winding; don’t leet go of the thread until there is a tiny knot at the end of your thread.
6. To start the quilting, pull the knot into the middle of the cloth. come up where you intend to start quilting again.
7. Pinch your thumbnail at this point so the knot remains under the top cloth.