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Does anyone have any tips to avoid knots in my thread while stitching? I must naturally turn my needle when stitching cause it twists a lot and ends up tangling and knotting, usually I can gently pull the knot apart but sometimes it get so bad I have to cut the thread and restart where I left off. If I notice the twisting I will hold my work up and let the needle hang and un-twist, but it doesn't always keep the pesky knots at bay. Does anyone else have this happen?

Happens to me and after all the years I have been stitching I have not found a way to stop it. Just have to be careful and check you thread every so often to reduce the times it does happen. Some threads seem to do it more then others, not sure why.

Isn't that what the product Thread Heaven is supposed to prevent? I've never used it. I think I've seen others mention it. I never see it when I am out shopping or I might pick up some. I was in a Michaels today and browsed quite a bit. But didn't notice it. Just picked up some bobbins and some pieces of Aida on clearance. Oh, and some scissors with really tiny points.

I use beeswax, just run the thread over it lightly and it certainly helps with the tangling. If you can't buy it in your stitchy store a beeswax candle will do the same job. I use Thread Heaven for metallic threads. The good thing about the wax is that it just disappears when you iron your finished project.

KNots happen to me quite a bit, with or without Thread Heaven. AS for finding TH in store, I've checked Joann's and Michael's and have only ever found it online.

Shorter thread lengths can help and also I find pulling the thread through a bit slower at the start of a length of thread can help too. I don't think there's any sure fire way for avoiding all knots though. As I stitch more, I tend to find that I can feel when I've pulled a thread through if a knot has formed (usually it forms with a nice big loop behind it) and I stop then and untangle it before I pull it too tight. I still have times though when all I can do is cut it out and rethread.

If I'm having trouble with a strand knotting, I try shorter thread lengths also. I also try to keep an eye open and untangle it before it is too tight and needs to be cut. I can "cheat" a bit with the afghan fabric as the holes are usually big enough that I can keep stitching with a small knot and manage to keep it on the back side. With the larger counts (22 or 25), it means cutting it out and rethreading most often.

Carole

When I was younger I used to have the same issue happen ALL the time. A knot in your thread can be very frustrating!!! Now I very rarely get a knot.. First, the length of my thread isn't as long as I used to have it. Dimensions cuts their their threads way to long for my little arms or something. Secondly, every so often I let my needle dangle so that it can unwind if needed. When I do get a knot I learned that pressing my needle against the inside of the knot and pulling from left to right for a little bit loosens the weak knots.
Faith

Am definately a fan of needle dangling too!

I think you can tell when it's time to have a dangle as the stitches don't seem as neat

Thanks for all the replies, it's nice to know I am not alone when it comes to knots. lol I dangle my needle a lot, I can tell when it's time cause my thread will twist when it get close together.

My mom used to hook rugs (she dyed all her own wool) and she said some thread was worst than others because of the dye used. I notice it most in red and blue but who knows if that is the case. My mom was a pretty smart lady though so maybe she was on to something!

I have heard that running your thread through a dryer sheet can help lessen knots because it will remove some of the static in your threads. Haven't tried it myself.

Dawn 0621.. the last time I was at JoAnns, I was shocked that they did have Thread Heaven. It was in the quilting section, on the wall that has the needles, buttons, hooks and all the other odds and ends. I've never noticed it before now- but I was also looking for needles and its been a while since I've done that.

I am using black right now and I noticed more knots when I use the first pair of threads of a 'bunch' The third pair has been almost knot free. How interesting.

every couple of stitches I dangle the needle and let it unwind itself..and shorter lengths seems to help. some colors seem to knot up more than others too..

I agree with Rose is that sometimes it just depends on the colour. I'm working on this piece right now with 3021 and with my old skein right near the end of the bobbin it's knotting like crazy and I have to keep a close eye on it. But the rest of the time it was a joy to work with.

Have the same problem, cut shorter lengths to work with and thread heaven does help enormously.

I was having a dilly of a time with these dark blue floss' in my so I looked on here & went ahead bought some Thread Heaven but it didn't seem to help much.

Went and looked over on the Scarlet Quince site & one suggestion was to "strip" the floss. As I pull threads for my project, I'm now pulling them one at a time and re-matching the 2 threads together. Since I started doing this, I've only had 2 knots & they slipped right out.