How to Tie a Sewing Knot: Methods Every Sewer Should Know

A seam is only as durable as the knot holding its first stitch in place. Skip it, or tie it badly, and the whole line unravels the moment tension hits it. The quilter’s knot is the industry standard for a reason — small, fast, consistent — but it isn’t the only method worth knowing. Here’s the full toolkit.

Why Knot Placement Matters

Decide where the knot ends up before tying it. For most hand sewing, the goal is a knot small enough to pull through to the wrong side of the fabric, or bury inside the seam allowance, so nothing shows on the finished side.

The Quilter’s Knot (Also Called the Tailor’s Knot)

The standard for hand-sewers and quilters alike, because it produces a small, neat, consistent knot every time.

1. Thread the needle, then hold it in the dominant hand, thread tail hanging below.
2. Hold the needle and thread tail together between thumb and index finger, needle tip pointing away.
3. Wrap the thread around the needle three or four times, wraps snug and close together near the tip.
4. Pinch the wraps firmly between thumb and finger.
5. Pull the needle through the wraps, sliding the pinched fingers down the thread as the needle passes through — this slides the wraps off the needle toward the thread’s end.
6. Pull the thread the rest of the way through until the wraps cinch into a small, tight knot.

With practice, this takes under two seconds and leaves a knot small enough to disappear inside the fabric.

The Simple Overhand Knot

The easiest to learn, though noticeably bulkier than a quilter’s knot:

1. Loop the thread tail around the index finger.
2. Roll the loop off the finger, catching it between thumb and finger.
3. Pull the loop tight to form a knot at the thread’s end.

Fine for beginners, or for basting stitches where extra bulk doesn’t matter.

The Double Knot (For Extra Security)

Seams under real stress — buttons, waistbands, anywhere with strain — benefit from a second layer of hold:

1. Tie a standard overhand or quilter’s knot as usual.
2. Without cutting the thread, tie a second knot directly on top of the first.
3. Pull tight so both knots settle together as one reinforced knot.

Starting a Stitch Without a Knot

Some techniques skip knots entirely to keep the back of the work flat — certain embroidery methods, or fabric too bulky to hide a knot well:

• Away waste knot: tie a temporary knot a few inches from the actual starting point, stitch as usual, then clip the knot later and weave the loose tail into the back of the stitches.
• Backstitch anchor: two or three tiny backstitches in place, instead of a knot, lock the thread down without adding bulk.

Tying Off at the End of a Stitch Line

Finishing matters as much as starting:

1. On the wrong side of the fabric, take a small stitch, and before pulling the thread all the way through, pass the needle through the loop that forms.
2. Pull tight to seat the knot flush against the fabric.
3. Repeat once for extra hold, then trim the excess thread close to the knot.

Machine Sewing Alternative

Machines don’t use hand-tied knots. Instead, most lock a seam with a backstitch — a few stitches forward, a few in reverse, forward again — at both the start and end. Where backstitching doesn’t suit the fabric, the top and bobbin threads can be tied off together by hand instead.

Final Thoughts

A reliable knot is a small technical skill with an outsized effect on how well anything sewn actually holds up. Practice the quilter’s knot until it’s automatic — compact, fast, and the method professional sewers and quilters rely on for a reason.

By Sara McLean