Knot Techniques
European Knot

Take the end of the longest thread. Wrap it twice around your index finger, holding it with your thumb.
Roll the thread around your index finger by push­ing the thumb back and forth a couple of times. Roll it off your finger.
Pull the gathered thread down with the thumb and the index finger to make it into a knot.

Simple Knot
This knot, also called the waste knot, is very common because of its simplicity. This knot temporarily holds the thread in the fabric until you can secure it with back stitches, then you can cut the knot off.

Tie a European knot and start basting.
Put the needle back through the same holes al¬ready made from the last stitch. Do this several times.
Clip off the knot and keep sewing.

Securing Thread
In couture and in tailoring, there is an alternative way to secure the thread to avoid the knots showing through in some areas of the garment. It is known as a back­stitch anchor.

To begin sewing, make one basting stitch through the und...