What is lock stitch (tie-off) in embroidery?

A few tiny stitches at the start (tie-in) or end (tie-off) of a stitch run that lock the thread so it can't unravel after a trim.

Stitches

Lock stitch (tie-off), explained

Lock stitches are usually three or four very short stitches back and forth, placed where later stitching or the edge of a column hides them. They are needed wherever the thread is cut, and without them stitches can pull out in the wash. Embrizo adds short lock stitches to the start and end of each stitch run automatically.

Tie-in: tiny back-and-forth stitches lock the thread at the start
Lock stitch (tie-off), drawn as thread. Real stitches are around 0.4 mm apart.

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