French Knots

Originally posted 2009-03-27 07:09:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I got an email from a reader recently, it said: “I was teaching myself the french knot. Looking at different stitching books I found that there was not one right technique. What technique to you use? `
I know what you mean. I have been told that what I call a French Knot is actually a colonial knot, but to tell you the truth I can’t see one bit of difference, so I call them French Knots.

I haven’t found a really good illustration in a book for French Knots, but I found some good stuff on-line.

–a video tutorial by a stitcher with an excellent reputation.

–an excellent photo tutorial from a quilting shop in NYC.

– another video tutorial.

– an illustrated tutorial (drawings) from Sublime Stitching,

– and one by them for lefties.

– a YouTube video.

– another YouTube video from Expert Village, which is excellent.

None of these are done on needlepoint canvas. All but the Expert Village one are done on non-evenweave fabric. The thing that will be different about French Knots in needlepoint is that you can come out and go into the fabric in the same hole or over a thread or intersection.

Here are some other things to remember about French Knots:

• the size of the needle makes the biggest difference in the size of the knot
• the thickness of the thread makes a difference as well
• in needlepoint wrapping the thread around the needle once or twice is preferred
• you can make French Knots over a base of Basketweave, so that you don’t have to make solid knots to cover an area, I call this the “Lazy Stitcher’s Method” and use it often; it makes for a less dense look
• French Knots can replace beading

Related posts:

1. The Lazy Stitcher’s Guide to French Knots
2. Knots, Fur and Turkeywork – book review
3. A Suggestion for Stitching Hair
4. Bringing Things to a Head – Stitching Foam
5. Couching

Tags: french knot. colonial knot, stitches for needlepoint