If you have to stitch with 2 strands of cotton and you want to start a new thread without it showing at all, you need to try the loop method!

You know when you’ve got to stitch 1 stitch in the middle of nowhere, or you’ve got to start a backstitch line, but there are no other stitches nearby under which you can tuck your new thread… Tricky, right?

I know, I know, some of you are thinking “well, you just tie a knot and be done with it!” and you’re right, there’s nothing stopping you… but, erm, it does creates that little lump… and you see, I like my work to look neat, but WITHOUT too much effort in the process. As far as I’m concerned, knots = not quite neat enough, and faffing trying to attach the first stitch without it showing = way too much effort.

That’s why I ♥ the loop method so much:

1. Cut a length of thread, and double it up to create a loop at one end, then thread it through the needle at the other end:

2. Stitch the first stitch (push the needle up through the fabric, then back down again) making sure the loop stays on the back. The wrong side of the work should look like this:

3. Thread the needle through the loop:

4. Now you can tighten the thread, and start stitching the second stitch by pushing the needle through to the right side of the fabric 🙂 So simple and totally invisible!!

It also works beautifully to start a speciality stitch, or to start a whipstitch seam when putting a biscornu together, for instance.

To stop the stitch, check out my tutorial HERE.