I do a couple of tricks for hand sewing. I do the quilter's knot by threading my needle, lay the tail against the needle and wind the remaining thread 3 to 4 times around the needle, grasp knot with my fingers and slide it down the needle and the thread until it reaches the bottom. After that I do the lock stitch at the top so the needle does not slide off the thread. To do the lock stitch, you pierce the little free thread end by the needle 2-3 times and then slide that down the needle. Both tips are on YouTube I believe.