I have used scraps of tear away stableizer for this and it works. I wonder with all the tech knowledge we still have this problem of 'the black hole'

I've always heard them called Leaders & Enders.

I started using them many years ago, one of the PBS quilt shows used them and called them hugs. They hug the beginning and end I suspect.

I just call it a "thingee" but I don't use it much. I just grabbed the threads. smile.

Thank you again to Paperprincess! I checked out the link, reread your post, and FINALLY figured it out! I know several people just said to hold on to the threads, but for some reason that doesn't work for me....Probably operator error!!

My quilt group calls them "frannies".

I've heard them called "spiders"

If you have a number of squares cut you could use them as beginners and enders and accomplish some blocks in the process.