Loose threads, cut or pull

Short answer: A loose thread should never be cut at the root or pulled hard. Ease it back gently from the inside, or cut it leaving a millimetre, so the knit does not open up.

Cutting is risky in knitwear

Cut a thread close to the fabric and you may open a loop that runs further in the next wash. In knitwear the loops hang together in long rows, and one cut thread can cause a hole that grows. This applies to all knits, including bamboo socks, where the yarn is thin.

Pulling the wrong way is risky

Pull a loose thread outwards and the fabric bunches into a pucker, and a hole may form beside it. The pucker can be hard to smooth out again. Instead, pull from the inside and only until the thread lies flat. This also applies to bamboo joggers for men, where the knit is soft and gives easily.

The safe method

Turn the garment inside out, find the thread end on the inside and ease it flat from there. A sewing needle helps you tuck the loose end between the loops so it stays hidden. It works on bamboo t-shirts for men and all other knits, and takes only a moment.

Tell sewing thread from knitting yarn

A loose sewing thread comes from a seam and can often be cut if you leave a millimetre. Knitting yarn is part of the fabric itself and needs care. Look at where the thread comes from. If it disappears into the pattern, it is knit. If it runs along a seam, it is sewing thread.

When the thread sits in a seam

If the seam thread is loose, the seam may be starting to open. Check whether the stitches around it hold. If they are firm, you can trim the loose end with a little room. If several stitches are loose, secure the seam with a few stitches from the inside first.

Where loose threads appear

Loose threads usually show up at edges, seams and places where clothes rub against something, such as a bag or a belt. Velcro and jewellery can also pull threads out of soft knits. Wash clothes with velcro closed and keep knits away from sharp edges.

Keep a needle handy

The easiest way to avoid cutting and pulling is to keep a sewing needle nearby. Then you can tuck the thread in at once instead of leaving it hanging. A small pouch with needle, thread and scissors in a drawer makes these small jobs easy to do straight away.

Wash after fixing the thread

Once the thread is tucked in, wash the garment gently and inside out. The loops settle back into place and any small pucker smooths out. Avoid the tumble dryer the first few times, as heat can make a loose end curl back out.

Frequently asked questions

When is it fine to cut

When the thread is the end of a sewing thread and not part of the knit itself. Always leave a millimetre so the seam does not open.

Can you tell the two apart

Yes, knitting yarn disappears into the pattern, while sewing thread lies on top of the fabric or runs along a seam.

What if the thread has snapped

Secure both ends with a few stitches from the inside so the loops do not run, and tuck the ends between the loops.