How to Start Cross Stitch Without a Knot (3 Methods)

Most of us learned to sew with a knot at the end of the thread. In cross stitch, it’s worth unlearning. Knots make little lumps on the back that show when you frame or press your work, and they can pop through the fabric. Here’s how to start cross stitch without a knot, three different ways, plus how to finish a thread so your back stays flat and tidy.

The short answer: for 2 strands, use the loop method: fold one long strand in half, come up from the back, make your first half stitch and catch the loop on the back. For any number of strands, use a waste knot placed on the front in your stitching path, or an away knot placed far away and woven in later. Once stitches exist, just run under them on the back.

If you’re completely new, start with my beginner’s guide to cross stitch. These methods come up right after you learn the basic X.

Why start cross stitch without a knot?

A knot isn’t a crime. But it causes three small problems:

• Lumps. A knot sits on the back like a pebble. Under glass or stretched over a board, you’ll see it from the front.
• They work loose. On aida, the holes are big. A small knot can slip right through, especially with 2 strands.
• They waste thread. And they’re fiddly to undo if you need to frog.

So the goal is to anchor the thread with your own stitches, not with a knot.

The loop method (even strands only)

This is my everyday start. It’s fast, secure and leaves no tail at all. It only works with 2 or 4 strands, because you fold a strand in half.

1. Cut one strand about 36 inches (90 cm) long. That’s twice the usual length.
2. Fold it in half and thread both cut ends through the needle. The folded end is now a loop.
3. Come up from the back at the bottom-left of your first stitch. Pull gently and stop while the loop is still hanging at the back.
4. Make the first half stitch: go down at the top-right corner.
5. Turn the work over and slip the needle through the loop.
6. Pull gently until the loop snugs flat against the fabric. Your thread is anchored. Carry on stitching.

For 4 strands (for example on 11 count or Binca), fold 2 strands in half the same way.

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The waste knot

The waste knot works with any number of strands and is lovely for starting a new area or a new color.

1. Tie a knot at the end of your thread.
2. From the front, go down about 1 inch (2 to 3 cm) away from your first stitch, in the direction you’ll be stitching. The knot stays on top of the fabric.
3. Come up at your first stitch and stitch toward the knot. On the back, your stitches cover the tail and lock it in.
4. When you reach the knot, pull it up gently and snip it off. The tail is already secure.

The only rule: make sure your stitches really do pass over the tail on the back. If they don’t, use the away knot instead.

The away knot (for long distances)

The away knot is for when your stitches won’t cover the tail: backstitch, scattered stitches, or the very first stitch in an empty area.

1. Knot the end of the thread.
2. From the front, go down far away from your design, at least 3 to 4 inches, somewhere you won’t stitch.
3. Come up at your first stitch and work your area.
4. When you’re done, snip off the knot. Turn the work over, thread the long tail onto the needle, and weave it under 3 or 4 stitches on the back. Trim.

It’s a little slower, but it’s the most secure start for tricky spots.

Starting under existing stitches

Once you have stitches on the fabric, you don’t need any special start:

1. Turn the work over.
2. Slide the needle under 3 or 4 stitches on the back, ideally of the same or a similar color.
3. Come up to the front where you need to be.

This works for any number of strands. Try not to run a dark thread under light stitches or across bare fabric, because it can show through on the front, especially on white aida.

How to end a thread neatly

Ending is the same idea in reverse:

1. Finish your last stitch on the back of the fabric.
2. Slide the needle under 3 or 4 stitches on the back. Some stitchers then turn and go back under one or two in the other direction for extra security.
3. Pull through and trim close, leaving no long tails to tangle with later stitches.

A few habits that keep the back flat:

• Don’t carry thread too far. If the next stitch of a color is more than about 3 squares away across bare fabric, end the thread and start again.
• Keep the thread around 18 inches long. Longer threads twist and fray.
• End before the thread gets thin and fuzzy. That’s usually the last 3 to 4 inches.

Which method I use and when

Situation	My start
2 strands, empty area	Loop method
1 or 3 strands, empty area	Waste knot (or away knot)
Backstitch or scattered stitches	Away knot
Stitches already nearby	Run under 3 or 4 stitches
Kids’ first project	A simple knot, honestly

Not sure how many strands you need? There’s a quick chart in how many strands for cross stitch. If your thread keeps twisting or tangling, how to fix cross stitch mistakes covers that too, and the cross stitch glossary explains any words that are new.

Practice on a small pattern

The best way to get comfortable is a small project with a few colors, so you start and end lots of threads. My free beginner heart has three colors and takes an evening or two. After that, try one of these:

And if you’d like every beginner tip on one page, the beginner cheat sheet comes free with The Hearth Letter. For the full picture, head back to the complete beginner guide.

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