I guess I use several tiny stitches and then slowly make them bigger and bigger as I go. Not just one stitch. It doesn't make a bump though. If I use the lock stitch it does make a bump (or at least it did on my old machine). Since I have no plans to ever enter in a competition I guess it's fine.

eta: so far I've only done straight line quilting and mostly from one side of the quilt to the other-so since it's going to be sewn over with binding I just backstitch or sometimes I forget. I've only done a couple of things where I had to end stitching inside the binding area and I did the small stitches on one and the lockstitch on one.

thanks very much for the link to that video. such an obvious solution ... and yet ... not one i'd have ever thought of on my own. :lol:

"cheater needles" are more commonly known as self-threading needles. you can get them just about anywhere needles are sold.

Thanks everyone. I do it like the video, only with a regular needle. The part that drives me crazy is threading the needle over and over with 54 year old eyes. I'll be dropping by Joann's today for some self-threading needles! (I really understand now why my grandma always kept me nearby while she was sewing so I could thread the needle for her!)

I always stitch in same place about 3 times with small stitch and then enlarge the stitch. I cut all threads at the fabric

Now why didn't I think of that? I have a cheater needle somewhere around here and never thought to use it on the thread tail. It was in a gift basket I got and since I can still see to thread a needle thought I didn't need it... yet.

I also do what LindaR does. Stitch in the same place a few times. Again, I've noticed that when all is said and done, washed and dried and ready to go, it's hard to find the knots and tails.

I went and bought Dritz Easy Threading Needles. Wow!!!!! This job is going about 5 times faster now. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you

I've used the "cheater needle" method, but sometimes I do it another way. I set the stitch length to zero, take a few stitches in place before I start, lift the presser foot and bring the bobbin thread to the top. Then I stitch a few more at zero in place, and then quilt normally. At the end I go back to zero and stitch in place. Takes longer but it avoids the bumps. The cheater method is good but man, sometimes you have SO many loose threads!

I find a ultra fine crochet hook the easiest and fastest.

Oh wow I LOVE the 'cheeter' needle gott get one of those! :0