Sewing stuffed animals from socks

[emelsea]

I recently checked a book out from my library about making stuffed animals from socks. I've been trying and trying and I have a problem: how do you start stitching when the knot in the thread (I'm actually using embroidery floss and/or that cotton stuff that looks like embroidery floss but cannot be seperated into strands) keeps popping out? I've tried making a BIG knot, but it still works through the sock material. Is there a trick I need to learn?

I know lots of momma's have made sock monkeys, so there HAS to be a way.

[E.V. Lowi]

Using a doubled thread- that is, one thread through the eye of the needle and then knotted with the other end, making a loop. Pull your needle through on your first stitch but before you pull it tight, slip the needle back through the loop and then pull tight. This will prevent the knot from slipping through.

Another method is to take 3 short stitched in the exact same place and pull tight. This works great for when you don't want a double thread and have no loop to thread through. HTH