This video tutorial is dedicated to showing you how to anchor your thread in cross-stitching using the waste knot method. In the needlework community, this technique is also commonly referred to as using a temporary knot or an “away knot.”
To secure your working thread using this method, you must first tie a small knot at the end of your thread before you begin stitching. Next, insert the needle into the fabric from the right side (the front) and make your first few stitches. As you stitch, ensure you are working over the tail on the back of the canvas to lock it securely in place.
Once your starting thread is firmly anchored by those initial stitches, it is time to cut off the temporary knot on the front. Snip it away carefully, and the remaining short tail on the back will be naturally covered and secured by your subsequent stitches.
This technique is very similar to the standard knotless method. As you might have guessed, the only difference is that here you tie a temporary knot for convenience and better thread tension control, which is simply trimmed away later.
You can watch the video lesson “The Waste Knot Method in Cross Stitching” online at any time, absolutely free. Happy stitching!
