How do I hand embroider on a quilt without having the knots show on the backing?

Question

I have created my quilting "sandwich" and am doing some embroidery work through all layers. I hear there's a way to do this without having the knots show on the back. Help!

Answer 1

I learned to embroider by putting the knot in through the front and then embroidering over it thus hiding the knot.

Answer 2

Here's another approach. Don't knot your thread. Put your needle into the fabric along the line you want to stitch (don't come out the other  side, stay inside in the sandwich), but about 3/4"-1" PAST the point you want to start. Keeping your needle inside the sandwich, move the tip of the needle back to the spot where you want to start stitching. NOW, bring the needle up through the top of the quilt. Pull gently on the needle until the tail of the thread just disappears inside the quilt. Now, make 3 or 4 tiny backstitches all in the same spot at the beginning of the stitching line, then stitch as usual. Your beginning backstitches will be secure yet barely visible.

Answer 3

make the knot small enough that it will hold, but you can pull it through the back of the quilt and it is "sandwiched" in between the backing and the batting.