Things You'll Need:
- Fabric
- Needle size 1-12
- Thread
- Bees wax
- Thimble
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Step 1
When quilting and with most hand sewing you will need a short, sharp needle sized 1-12. The shorter needle is easier to control in thick or layered fabric.
Keep the needle sharp by running it through an emery bag (the small strawberry bag that comes with most tomato-shaped pin cushions.) -
Step 2
Snip your thread at an angle so it is easier to slip through the needle eye. The end you slip through the eye will be shorter and should be the end taken directly off the thread spool. This will help prevent the thread from twisting.
Cut the thread to a length of a foot and a half to just over two feet. Or measure thread from your shoulder to your elbow to get a manageable length. -
Step 3
Another step to prevent twisting and knotting is to slide thread over beeswax. Use a warm iron and place thread between two layers of scrap fabric (to absorb excess wax) sealing the wax into the thread.
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Step 4
You can secure the thread by holding the long tail down and stitching back and forth in the same spot several times.
Or, my preferred method is to knot the thread by holding the tail of the thread against the needle. (The thread end will be next to the needle eye). Wrap the thread tightly around the needle 4 to 8 times - the more times you wrap, the larger the knot - hold the wrapped thread tightly, sliding it off the sharp end of the needle onto itself. Continue to gently slide the thread coil until it is close to the tail of the thread. Pull the tail to tighten and fasten the knot, then trim the excess thread. This takes practice but it is a very useful knot technique! -
Step 5
When you are finished sewing, backstitch several times to secure the thread.
Or, take one half-length backstich, leaving a loop at the end of your stitching line. Slide the needle through the loop and pull so the small knot is close to the fabric.
If you are quilting, rather than snipping the thread ends, make another small stitch with the needle and run the needle through the batting layer for a half inch, then bring the needle back through the layer you are working on. Cut the thread, and shift the fabric layers slightly so the thread end disappears between the fabric layers.
