Beginner Embroidery: Thread a Needle, Start Your Stitch, and Tie Off Floss

Watch the video: “How to Thread a Needle and Tie Off Embroidery Floss” by Mary Leaf Makes

If threading a needle makes you sweat, you’re in the right place. In this beginner walk-through, we follow Mary Leaf Makes as she threads a needle, starts the first stitch, and ties off cleanly—so your embroidery looks neat front and back. You’ll also find clear answers to the most-asked questions from real beginners: What’s the tail for? Which end gets the knot? And how do you finish so it doesn’t come undone?

What you’ll learn

• How to prepare your floss end so it actually slips through the needle eye

• A simple way to anchor your first stitches without fancy tricks

• A secure, repeatable tie-off method that tightens neatly on the back

• When to try fewer strands (2–3) if six feels impossible

• Quick fixes from the comments for common beginner hiccups

Getting Started: Your Essential Embroidery Toolkit

What You’ll Need A basic setup is all it takes to practice along with the video: a hoop with plain fabric, an embroidery needle, your floss, and small scissors. The video uses a plain piece of Kona fabric and DMC floss. The exact needle size isn’t specified, but it’s described as a “pretty large size needle.”

Understanding Embroidery Floss Mary demonstrates threading with all six strands first (the hardest scenario) to prove it can be done. She also notes that two or three strands is what she normally uses—and that threading is much easier with fewer strands.

Pro tip If you’re learning, start with 2–3 strands. You’ll get the feel for the motion without wrestling frayed ends.

Watch out The specific floss color and needle size aren’t mentioned in the video, so experiment with what you have on hand.

Mastering the Art of Threading Your Needle

The Basic Technique Threading can be the biggest hassle when you’re new, but Mary keeps it simple. She pulls the floss straight, moistens the end (either with a quick lick or water), then flattens it between her fingers to make a compact, narrow profile. Aim the flattened end through the eye, and don’t be shy about a few tries. If it mushrooms or frays, trim a fresh end and try again.

One helpful mindset: consider threading a tiny trial-and-error loop. Flatten, aim, try. If you miss, flatten again or re-cut. This keeps frustration low and progress steady.

Quick check Did you get the thread through the eye? Great—pull a comfortable length through but keep a shorter tail near the needle.

Mary’s setup uses a “tail” near the needle rather than tying the thread to the needle. On the opposite end—the working end—she ties a knot near the tip. If the knot lands a little far from the end, trim the extra.

From the comments Beginners frequently worry that the tail will slip out of the needle. Several viewers—and the creator in a separate comment—suggest holding the needle near the eye while you pull through, and keeping the tail long enough. Both help prevent the tail from sliding out during your stitch.

Tips for Tricky Threads

• Moisten and flatten the end each time it frays.

• When six strands feel impossible, practice with two or three strands first.

• A clean cut changes everything; snip and retry if the end splits.

• If you really struggle, the video mentions needle threaders as a low-cost helper.

Watch out If you’ve been doubling the floss and tying at the needle (like basic sewing), your stitches may look extra bulky compared to a pattern’s instructions. Switching to the tail method often corrects that thick look naturally.

When to Use a Needle Threader Mary says she doesn’t use threaders personally, but they’re inexpensive and many beginners find them helpful. If your vision or dexterity makes the tiny eye a challenge, a simple threader can cut the frustration dramatically.

The First Step: Anchoring Your Stitch

The Knot Method (Mary’s Preference) Here’s the start that Mary demonstrates: bring the needle up from the back of the fabric at your starting point, and the knot at the working end will catch on the back. With thinner setups (like two or three strands), she suggests tying two knots if the first pulls through. This is a fast way to get moving without extra steps.

Quick check The knot should rest against the back of the fabric and your stitch should pull snugly without puckering the fabric.

Exploring Alternative Starting Methods (Anchor Knot) Mary mentions an alternative sometimes called an “anchor,” but doesn’t demonstrate it in this video. If you try the knot-catch method and it still pulls through your fabric, look up anchoring methods from the front as an option. The video doesn’t specify the exact steps for anchors, so consider this a pointer for additional research.

Stitching On: A Quick Backstitch Demo

How to Create a Backstitch With the thread anchored, Mary places a short line of backstitches—just enough to demonstrate the flow. If you need a refresher on the stitch mechanics, she notes there’s a separate backstitch video you can consult. For now, the goal is simply to get a feel for tension and spacing as you move.

Pro tip Use a short practice line to dial in a comfortable rhythm before you commit to your pattern lines.

The Perfect Finish: Tying Off Your Thread Securely

Creating the Finishing Knot Turn your hoop over to the back. Find a piece of existing stitching to slide under with your needle. Pull your thread to form a loop, then pass your needle through the loop and pull tight. Mary repeats this a second time—two passes through loops—to make the knot snug and secure.

Watch out If a single loop-knot feels loose, do the second pass as shown in the video. It’s the extra snug you’re looking for.

Weaving for Extra Security Mary then weaves the needle under several stitches on the back. This adds friction and security so your tie-off is less likely to work loose with handling.

Quick check Your tie-off should feel tight to the touch, and the woven tail should sit flat against the fabric.

Trimming Your Excess Thread With everything secure, use sharp snips to trim the extra thread close to the fabric. Keep the cut tidy, but don’t trim so aggressively that you clip the knot itself.

From the comments Viewers loved how this finishing method “can’t pop out through the fabric.” It reassures beginners who have seen stitches loosen when the back isn’t secured well.

Troubleshooting Common Embroidery Challenges

Dealing with Frayed Ends

• Problem: The floss end splits and won’t go through the eye.

Fix: Moisten and flatten; if it still frays, trim a fresh end and try again. Consider starting practice with 2–3 strands.

• Problem: The eye feels impossibly small.

Fix: Try a threader. The video mentions these are very inexpensive and widely available.

Community tip A commenter suggested using a tiny piece of tape folded over the end, cutting it into a slim point, guiding it through the needle, and removing the tape. The tape method isn’t shown in the video, but several beginners report it helped them in a pinch.

Loose Knots? Here’s What to Do

• Starting knot pulling through: Tie a second knot for thin thread (2–3 strands), as Mary suggests.

• Finishing knot not holding: Make two looped passes through the loop, pull tight each time, and weave under several stitches before trimming.

• Tail slipping out while stitching: Keep the tail long enough and hold the needle near the eye as you pull—advice echoed by the creator and community replies.

Embroidery Confidence: Moving Forward with Your Projects

With threading, starting, and tying off under your belt, you’ve solved the three beginner roadblocks that stall most new stitchers. Remember, the video emphasizes that there are multiple ways to achieve the same result in embroidery. If Mary’s starting method works for you, great; if not, explore other anchoring options.

From the comments: beginner wins

• Several viewers said this was the first tutorial that clearly explained what to do with the unknotted side and why a tail exists.

• New stitchers who used to double and knot at the needle realized why their stitches looked thicker than the pattern called for.

• Many appreciated finally seeing how to finish—something beginner videos often skip.

A note on tools and accessibility The video doesn’t list an exact needle size, and the floss shade isn’t specified. If the eye feels too small for your current floss strand count, adapting your strand count (down to 2–3) is absolutely fine for practice.

Optional paths for future exploration If you later explore machine embroidery, you may encounter specialized hoops and frames that support different workflows. Hand and machine approaches differ, but your understanding of clean starts and tidy tie-offs will still inform your finishing expectations. Some crafters eventually experiment with tools like a magnetic embroidery hoop to stabilize fabric on certain machines, or a general-purpose embroidery frame for display and stretching after stitching.

If you’re browsing gear or tutorials online, you’ll also see brand-specific systems—choose what matches your machine, if you have one. For example, there are magnetic embroidery hoops designed for various machine families, and some communities compare options like a snap hoop monster for larger or thicker projects. None of these are required for hand embroidery, but it helps to know the language when you encounter it.

You might also find retailer categories and roundups referencing regions and availability—think phrases like embroidery hoops uk—which can be helpful search terms when sourcing tools or supplies locally.

If you later shift into a hybrid workflow (hand finish on machine-stitched bases, or vice versa), you’ll see accessories described as magnetic embroidery frames or broader “magnetic hoops” that snap fabric in place without traditional tightening. Again, these apply to machine setups and are separate from the hand hoop you’re using here, but the end goal is the same: stable fabric and crisp results.

Finally, if you’re shopping for a new setup and stumble on a sewing and embroidery machine, remember that its hoop accessories and practices will differ from hand embroidery. Your new threading and finishing skills still matter—especially when you do any hand detailing or finishing after a machine run.

FAQ

Is there a right or wrong way to start? The video shows Mary’s preferred knot-catch method from the back. She also mentions an “anchor” approach from the front but doesn’t demonstrate it. If your knot slips through thin fabric, tying two knots (for 2–3 strands) or exploring anchor methods can help.

Do I knot at the needle to keep the thread from falling out? No. Mary leaves a tail at the needle and knots only the working end. Community replies confirm there’s no knot at the needle; holding near the eye helps keep the tail steady as you pull.

How do I finish so it won’t unravel? Flip to the back, slide under existing stitches to make a loop, pass the needle through the loop and pull tight—do this twice. Then weave under several stitches and trim close.

I’m still struggling with six strands—what now? Try two or three strands while learning. It’s easier to thread and control tension, and the video specifically notes that 2–3 strands are much simpler for beginners.

Wrap-up You’ve just tackled the skills that make embroidery feel doable: threading with confidence, anchoring without fear, and finishing like a pro. Practice a short line of backstitches, tie off using the double-loop method, and you’ll see your back look as neat as your front. Mary’s final message applies here too: there are different ways to do nearly everything in embroidery—pick what clicks, keep experimenting, and ask questions as you go.

Thanks for stitching along. Keep practicing these three core moves before you dive into your next pattern—they’ll save you time and second-guessing later.