Embroidery coming undone: how to stop it unravelling

Which stitches unravel fastest

How quickly a loose thread spreads depends on how the work was stitched.

• Chain stitch. Each loop holds the next, so a broken thread can unzip a whole outline if pulled from the right end. Hand aari work and some machine work are chain stitched; see our aari work guide.
• Long satin stitches. Wide, smooth stitches catch on rings, bag zips and velcro. A caught stitch lifts into a loop and loosens the ones beside it.
• Couched metallic thread. A metallic thread laid on the surface is held by small stitches. If those break, the laid thread lifts away in a curl.
• Lockstitch machine embroidery. Upper and lower threads lock in every stitch, so a break usually leaves a small gap rather than running.

Securing a loose end step by step

You need a needle with a large eye (a self-threading needle makes it easier), small scissors and, if you have it, a fray-stopping liquid made for fabric.

• Thread the loose end into the needle. If it is too short, thread the needle first and slide it under the work, then catch the end through the eye.
• Take it through to the back of the fabric as close as possible to where it came out.
• On the back, weave the end under four or five existing stitches, then back the other way through a couple more.
• If there is a second loose end close by, tie the two together in a small, firm knot.
• Test a fray-stopping liquid on a hidden seam, then add a tiny dot to the knot. Skip this on silk and on metallic thread, where it may stain or dull.
• Trim the end, leaving a short tail on the back.

When to hand it to a tailor

A single loose end is a home job. Take the piece to a tailor near you, or to someone who repairs embroidery, if a motif is coming apart in several places, if metallic thread has lifted along a length, if the fabric is fine or delicate, or if you would need to restitch part of the design. We do not repair or alter existing clothes, so this is a job for someone close by.

Stopping it happening again

Wash embroidered pieces inside out in a mesh bag on a gentle cycle, or by hand, and keep them away from velcro and zips in the same load. Take rings off before pulling on a worked sleeve. The washing guide for embroidered suits covers the details.

On a new outfit, a lining behind the embroidery protects the reverse from rubbing; our lining article explains why. The guide to judging embroidery quality shows how to check that thread ends are secured. When you ask for custom embroidery, mention how the piece will be washed and worn, and request a quote; we confirm what is possible on your fabric and design.