AIBU to tie a knot at the end of the thread when repairing clothes?

[OctoberNovemberDecember]

I know this is the most first world problem ever, but I was just thinking about this while repairing something.

Whenever I do things like sewing on a button or sewing part of a seam that's come undone, I always tie a knot at the end of my thread and then start sewing.

However, I remember people from my childhood who always said you should never tie a knot, and that the "proper" way to do things was to make a couple of repeat stitches on top of each other so that it holds. I remember when we did embroidery at school with that binca stuff, there were at least two people who were horrified that I tied a knot to start.

Well, sod those people. I'll tie a knot if I fucking want to.

Team knot

Repeat stitches look neater but if you're sewing on a button or something no one is going to see the knot and I find it easier so it's what I always do. Even if I'm stitching something neat I'll just try to hide the knot on the inside - I don't really trust repeat stitching to hold! I also think even if you do see the knot sometimes it can make something look quite cute and handmade.

I’m still stuck in the sewing machine 🙁

@JoanneMcCarthy, I’m sure you’re a lovely, if one-thumbed, adult, but you must admit you were a bit of a deviant at twelve, plus your habit of pouring your unwanted flask of vegetable soup all over other people’s desks got a bit tiresome.

Though I did hear your friend Elaine Costigan did some time for GBH to a tv licence inspector, so watch yourself if you’re still in touch.

(Please, @ElaineCostigan show up on the thread… )

@OctoberNovemberDecember, I think the ‘uncouth’ thing was because, as a pp said, you were only supposed to knot the thread if it was temporary tacking stitches which would be ripped out, and you should use the heater double stitches if it was hemming or something permanent…?

I knot. My mum was a home dressmaker and taught me to sew before I went to secondary school.... Where I learned all she had taught me was 'wrong' . I had a miserable year in needlework before I could flourish in metalwork. I still use mums methods.

@JoannaMccarthysthumb

I’m still stuck in the sewing machine 🙁

Say hi to Sister Mary Andrew if she’s still knocking around.

I spent 10 years as a designer partly working on the factory floor where l leaned this. Then 25 years teaching textiles. Knots and double stitches are crap. You do this.

Pull thread through until you have a loop. Thread needle through loop and pull tight. Do this twice more pulling tight. Break thread. This never comes undone.

I tie a knot at the beginning because I've spent 5 minutes threading the bloody needle, there's no way I'm going to chance it all going wrong at the first stitch! But I use DontPee's method at the end. But I came bottom in needlework in the third year of secondary, what do I know

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

I spent 10 years as a designer partly working on the factory floor where l leaned this. Then 25 years teaching textiles. Knots and double stitches are crap. You do this.

Pull thread through until you have a loop. Thread needle through loop and pull tight. Do this twice more pulling tight. Break thread. This never comes undone.

But isn't that at the end of a piece of sewing? I meant the beginning, so your first stitch doesn't just pull through the fabric...?

Though that sounds like an excellent plan for the end.

I do it for both

I do both (rebel)

I always tie a knot first.
Taught by my DM who is an outstanding seamstress.

@JadeTrinket @JoanneMcCarthy @JoannaMccarthysthumb you win at the internet today

Well done, OP! Smash the stitch system. I always do a double knot too. Screw ‘em.

I always tie a knot (on the extremely rare occasions I sew something

@Fruitbatdancer

We’ll after I sewed the same fucking beaver badge 3 times as I’m an incompetent sewer who made the fler de lise thingy wonky 3 times, I ranted to a friend who said and I quote “oh I just superglued DS’s on” I mean OP, if people are shocked at you rebellious knot they’ll be weeping in the street at bloody superglue!! #whathastheworldbecome

I glued my DD's scout badges on. Well I glued the first set on, all the rest of her scout badges are still in a pile waiting to be sewed on after 3 years of Scouting.

I tie a knot OP. I never even knew not tying a knot was an option until my DD told me that they had learned in school how to do it without tying a knot - she knew more about sewing at 8 years old than I do as a full grown adult.

I double stitch rather than knot it but I honestly can't remember who taught me to do it that way - either my gran or my dad maybe. I don't think it matters.

@JadeTrinket

Yes, our sewing nun told us it was uncouth too. But then Joanne McCarthy sewed right through her thumb with the sewing machine and was carted off gushing blood, so I’ve just gone on tying knots if I feel like it. Joanne was a ringing bitch as twelve year olds go, and everyone hoped she got gangrene.

Well this thread took an unexpected turn 😂

Smash the stitch system

@VestaTilley That's quite a tongue twister! Try saying it several times in a row.

If you only tie the knot and start sewing, the knot often pulls through the fabric. I tie a knot with the first few stitches by stitching a loop and knotting through (now sure what that's called), but find a knotted thread only to be not very secure.

However... I do always tie the knot first

Gosh always done this as taught by my grandmother who sewed ALL her own clothes!

You can do a knot if that's what you prefer, but it doesn't really work I don't think? The lightest tug would pull the miniscule knot through. By doing a couple of stitches over the top of each other it holds more firm.

@OctoberNovemberDecember haha, I can’t, I’d be tied up in knots

Geddit?

@JovialNickname

You can do a knot if that's what you prefer, but it doesn't really work I don't think? The lightest tug would pull the miniscule knot through. By doing a couple of stitches over the top of each other it holds more firm.

That's why I always tie a double knot.

It's never been a problem and I've never had anything pull through.