How do you start threads? I was taught the standard "leave a tail and tuck" method when I first started stitching. Somewhere along the way I learned the loop method and was truly thrilled with the fast start! I thought I would share it with you. This start is for standard threads only. You wouldn't want to use it when stitching with a variegated thread because it uses only one thread and you'd lose that variegation.
I'm showing you with half my usual thread length just for example. Start with one thread and put the two ends together.
Thread those ends through the needle leaving the "u" end as a loop at the bottom.
Start your stitch (your first half of the X), leaving a tail. Now, I've flipped the fabric over so I'm showing you the backside. Put the needle through the looped end and into the place where you start the next stitch (or the top half of the X) and hold your needle there.
Can you see it better here?
Holding your needle steady, pull the thread so the loop disappears and grips around the needle. Once it is tight, pull the thread on through. We are still on the back side of the fabric here.
Here is the looped end held tight by the first half of the X.
Here is the front side at that point. Yes, my stitches run backwards when compared to most! When I learned to stitch I found it easier to keep count if I started my rows going this direction.
What direction is that again? A "people love to tell you how wrong you are" story.
Years ago, when I first got "online" I read somewhere (probably a message board) about how the loop method was wrong. How you shouldn't use the loop method because then one of your threads would be going the wrong "direction." Wait, what? Direction? What did this mean? I was worried. Embroidery floss has a direction? No one ever told me this before. Fevered Internet searching brought up site after site telling you how to tell which direction with which to stitch from. I worried myself into a tizzy. All these thousands of threads I've stitched with, all going every which way and both. Gasp! All those stitched things I've given to people I loved with stitches that had threads maybe going the wrong direction! Holy Moses, I was mortified!
I studied the instructions. I studied my threads. They said look for the "twist" in the thread. Make sure the thread is started by this, the correct end with the twist going this way. WAIT! I couldn't tell which was correct! OMG I CAN'T TELL ANY DIFFERENCE! The major thread manufacturers websites gave no help. Crap, they actually said NOTHING about which end of the thread to use ~ their own product! What the hell was I going to do? I was certain my beloved hobby was ruined, all because I couldn't see the obvious.
After several anxious weeks I came to my senses. The bare fact is it doesn't really matter. If YOU think you can see the correct end of a strand of embroidery floss then by all means, use that end. If you like the loop method, use it. I promise, no one will EVER be able to tell the difference. I mean, really? Can you see any difference in these three rows of stitches below? Each one was stitched with threads going one way, threads going the other way and threads going both. No tricks here. Tell me true, which one is correct?
Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox
