Most stitchers are good with hiding starting tails, they either use a LOOP START (come back next month, and we'll cover this quick trick for anchoring with NO tail), or they run under a few stitches of a previous row, or they stitch over the first few stitches of a new length of floss.

Here's another way to begin - and this is actually a technique borrowed from Hardanger!  Use what is called a 'waste knot'.  To begin, tie a knot at the tail end of a new length of floss...

Step ONE: push your needle down through the FACE of your fabric, well away from where you intend to stitch.  You want the knot to be on the face of your stitching, and at least 4-6" away from your starting position, so you have a good length of floss to work with later on (NOTE: you need enough length to thread through a needle and run under AFTER you stitch). 

Step TWO: bring the needle up from the BACK of the fabric in the starting position, and just begin working - remember the tail is pulled off to one side and anchored by that knot, so you don't have to worry about stitching over it.  When you reach the end of the current stitching length, run the tail under as you would normally end off.  (NOTE: you could also use this method to 'hold' your tail in place while you stitch over it!  Anchor the floss w/in a couple inches of your starting point, and in the direction you will be stitching.  Stitch over the tail on the back of the fabric as usual - just snip the waste knot off after once you've worked a few stitches, so the tail is anchored, but the knot isn't making a lump in your stitching.  This is a great method for those who find it awkward to hold tails, or are having slight hand problems).

NOW, Step THREE: go back to that knot holding the beginning of the length of floss out of the way.  Lift the knot off the fabric slightly, and cut it off (you're 'wasting' it, get it, LOL, that's why it's called a 'waste knot').  On the back of the fabric, pull the floss you just cut to the back, and thread it through a needle (now you see why it's important to leave a long enough length!).  Run the tail under your stitching, and there you have it, both ends are now tacked down.

This method does use a bit more floss than simply stitching over the starting thread, but when you get good at it you can actually use the knot to anchor the floss where you can stitch over it, and just cut the knot off when you get to it, and keep on stitching!!

Here are some other starting tail tips - it's important to anchor beginning tails well, so don't be afraid to run the starting tail under several stitches.  If possible, I anchor my tails under 4-6 stitches, and if I don't have that many I weave the tail around 2-3 (laying my stitches side by side, not on top of each other - you don't want a bump!).  Actually, if I'm using a single strand of floss (say for backstitching), I generally run my thread under some stitches, then loop it around part of a stitch just before the spot I plan to begin working - that way the thinner thread is less likely to pull out on me.  This method is also handy for delicate flosses - like blending filaments!

OK, that's all well and good for starting, but how can you end neatly and securely?  First of all, always run the tail AWAY from the edge of the stitched area - especially if there is open fabric showing at the edges.  This is even more important when working on light colored fabrics with dark floss.  Trust me, those wee bits will show up like a sore thumb when the piece is framed, if they aren't dealt with properly!

If the piece is going to take some abuse (for example, stitching on a sweatshirt or tablecloth or topper), it's a good idea to run the tail in 2 directions - so run under 3-4 stitches, the turn in an L or even a U, and run under 3-4 more stitches.  This ensures that the tails will stand up to a little abuse - such as the twisting and pulling of being washed.  I actually like this technique so much I use it even on regular needlework - tails that are too short, or not run under properly, may pull out even during the gentle washing/pressing before framing!

While this next tip isn't exactly about tails, it is about floss showing through fabric... and that's carry threads.  YOU know what I mean, those little lines of floss sneaking across the back of the fabric from one letter to another on the text of a design (for example).  These too will show through light fabric, ESPECIALLY if the thread is dark.  Though it takes a bit more time and effort, it looks much better to end the floss on each letter, and start it new on the next letter - this is where a LOOP START is a great help, as I mentioned last month.  Can you tell that tails and carry threads are a pet peeve of mine, LOL?

My final thought for today is that once those tails are securely run under and anchored in place, pull the remaining floss length away from the fabric, and clip the floss as close to the fabric as you can get w/o damaging your stitching.  DO NOT leave little tufts of tail hanging out - and especially near unstitched fabric areas, as they WILL come back to haunt you when the piece is framed (and they show through the fabric, ruining the nice clean edges of your design).

Happy stitching!