I have a question for all you hand quilters out there. How do you tie off your thread at the end of a row or when you need more thread on your needle. I have been pondering this for a while now. I just take a couple of small stitches and then hide my thread in the seam line. I know this is probably not the right way to do it, but I don't know what else to do. Any help would be appreciated.

I make a small knot, then pull it to nest it inside the layers. same as when I start the new thread.

Same here.

I do it the same way.

Debbie

I do the same thing.

make a small know near the last stitch and then back stitch a little and pull it through the batting and top about 1/'2 in away and just pop that knot into the batting!

but my question is how do you make a knot. I have tried that but my knot is always too far away from where I want it and I end up with a big long tail before the knot, if you know what I mean.

once you make a loop, put your needle in it and work it down to the quilt.Do you need a pic?

I hold the point of my needle near the last stitch, wind the thread twice around the point, put my left forefinger on those loops on the needle, then pull the needle through the loops. Keeping the finger on the loops seems to help the knot to stay near the last stitch.
Don't worry if you have a short distance between the last stitch and the knot, as, when it gets hidden in the batting, that will hold everything in place.

I tie off like most of the replys. It is kind of like making a french knot only you then pull it through the top of the quilt and bury it in the batting.

I guess I will just have to keep on trying. A picture would be very helpful. That is the only part of hand quilting that I hate so much. I can never seem to get it to look right. Thanks for all the info.

Hey just went and did some quilting and used Lacelady's way of doing it and voila, it works. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have all been so helpful. Thanks again.

I use the quilters' knot and pop it between the layers like the above. It does take a little practice, but is well worth the time to learn and use. Much neater than backstitching. Looks good on both sides. :lol:

I do the same as everyone above. The knot you are making is called a Quilter's knot.

When I do a basic overhandknot, I then hold my thumb over the knot so it is not that far away, and if it is, I just try to bury it anyway.

I do also.....hold needle with right hand, wind thread twice around with left hand and then insert needle close to last stitch :-)

Well done quiltinggrandma, practice makes perfect.

I had that same problem when I started hand quilting. Now I make the knot but before I pull it into a knot, I slip the tip of the needle in the opening. Then I can slide the knot down to the surface of the quilt, slip the needle out and pull the knot tight. Voila, no big tail! I hope these directions are clear.

It takes practice. I just wind my thread around the needle twice, but right by the quilt top, then hold on to the knots and run them toward the quilt top. Like you do your quilters knot, but down by the quilt top.
This might be difficult to understand.
Sorry.
Have a quilty day!
simple quilter

here too. You can also look up hand quilting on YouTube.com and there are tons of videos on this sort of question:)

me to