Hello all.
Every time I sew on a button I find it a bit of a challenge to finish off the sewing. When available, I use a surgeon's clamp, called a mosquito clamp, to form a reef knot. This works well, is quick, a can be done with short leads. I know it as a "surgeon's instrument tie" although it may have other names, too. Unfortunately, the clamp never seems to be with me when I need to put on a button (on vacation, in a hotel room, etc.).
When I don't have any tool other than the needle and thread is where I run into no-man's land. I have seen several different ways described for locking up the free end of the sewing. This includes using no knot at all, just letting friction do the job, which is unsatisfying, and several "knots" that I can't quite make out from the description and photos but look like several wraps around the standing part and pulling the whole mess up snug.
Has anyone got a quick, easy way for a fat-fingered seamster (me) to lock up the stitches without using tools? I would prefer a technique that does not require a long bit of thread remaining on the needle as my little travel sewing kit has the needles pre-loaded with not-very-long bits of thread.
Thanks.