French Knot Video Tutorial
Here's a video tutorial for the French Knot. This knot is used often in hand-embroidery, but a lot of people avoid it, because it intimidates them. Once you work one correctly, you'll find that it's really easy!!!
There are different methods to making French knots. Some people twist their thread three times, some only two. I generally use two twists, but if I want a larger knot, I'll go with three. You can also achieve larger knots by changing the weight of the thread you are using. Instead of, say, two strands of DMC, you can use three or four.
The trick to French knots is to keep tension on your working thread while you're pulling your needle through so that your coils stay in their proper place on your needle.
If you want to see the French knot in application, you can check out these hollyhocks, around which you'll see some knots used for a 'stippling' effect.
Here's the video:
For more video tutorials, please visit the Video Library of Stitches.
There are different methods to making French knots. Some people twist their thread three times, some only two. I generally use two twists, but if I want a larger knot, I'll go with three. You can also achieve larger knots by changing the weight of the thread you are using. Instead of, say, two strands of DMC, you can use three or four.
The trick to French knots is to keep tension on your working thread while you're pulling your needle through so that your coils stay in their proper place on your needle.
If you want to see the French knot in application, you can check out these hollyhocks, around which you'll see some knots used for a 'stippling' effect.
Here's the video:
For more video tutorials, please visit the Video Library of Stitches.
Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials
Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, November 05, 2006
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75 Comments:
Oh my goodness thank you!! I am not a proud and accomplished french knotter!! I've tried to follow about 6 other tutorials with no luck. But now I am a pro.
Thank you!
Glenn
I'm glad to hear it, Glenn! Keep stitching!
Thank you so much. I just needed a little reminder (it's about 35 years since I embroidered a French Knot) to finsih making a Christmas stocking! Your site was a quick easy life saver.
really nice to watch and a nice easily understanderbel voice
Catrin in denmark
E X C E L L E N T E !!!
E X C E L L E N T E !!!
Hey im only 13 and im gettin pretty interested in embroidery i was searching on da web and then found ur syte fank you soooo much i just recieved an A* on my textile exam ur my embroidery role model
Hi,I am very much glad on seeing your video on Embroidery.It is so well explained.I hope you'll also teach us the Bullion Knots.Thanks
Amudha
Wow!!! Can't belive it! I could finally manage to do a french knot! (been trying to ever since I started cross stitching) Thanks! It's a very easy to follow tutorial, and it works!!!
Hi Glenn I have asked for Bullion Knots and you have done for me.I am so happy to see that.Many many thanks.I tried it atonce it came so well.
Amudha
amukish2002@yahoo.com
THANK YOU!
I have been searching everywhere for someone to Show me how to do these stitches!!!
I own many books but I learn very little that way I need to SEE someone doing the stiches. I have been crazy quilting for 4 years and now I can make them much more then plain patches.
Vanessa
Thank you , thank you, thank you! I could do these when I was a little girl (my mother showed me), but just couldn't seem to make it work as an adult trying to follow written instructions. Excellent tutorial.
thank you so much for this fantastic tutorial! so much easier to follow than paper instructions. i can now finally finish my embroidery.
reta site-what a wonderful resource!
Thank you so much for your instructional videos. My 87 year old mother has a pattern she is doing which needs the pistol stitch. I think it looks something like the french knot but long. Is that right?
Hi, Hazel - that's right. For pistol stitch, instead of going down into the fabric right next to where you came up and placing the knot right there, you take your needle a distance away from where you came up, to make the line of the pistol stitch. The rest of the stitch is the same - wrap your needle, hold the working thread to keep tension while you pull through, and there's your pistol stitch.
Hope that's helpful!
Hi
I just got my computer and came to your site and now I cannot see any of your videos. There is just a blank spot where they used to be. Can you or any of your readers help me access the videos.
Nora
Hi, Nora!
You may need to install Flash on your new computer. If you visit the Google video help page, you should be able to find information to help you as well.
Here's a link:
Google Video Help
Thank you -- I was trying to do a French knot based on what I read in a book. Your video was indispensible. Thank you so much!
-Sarah
Thanks so much! I tried to make french knots from written insructions but they always turned out flat because I wasn't holding the thread with my left hand correctly. Now they are perfect!
Karen Oregon
Thanks for posting this. In a panic last night I forgot how to make french knots since it's been years since I've picked up an embroidery needle.
This was so easy to understand!
WOW! This helped me get rid of those annoying loops on my knots! Thank you so much!
consider this comment posted on all of your tutorials. thank you so much for posting these. i had difficulty with several stitches and your tutorials straightened me out. bravo to your high quality vids and fantastic instruction!
Thank you!
Being a visual learner, this helped the written instructions I keep reading through "click."
Thank you, such an easy explination on these stiches! This is such a wonderful link for those of us who have only just begun!
thanks heaps for your site. your visual/vocal instructions are excellent. i have saved this site in my favourites so i can refer back to this site for another lesson . you are a very thoughtfull person to add this free editorial. thanks for you patience , time and knowledge.regards cheryl
YAY!! I LOVE your wonderful videos :o) I am a quilter and have getting hooked on using hand embroidery on by blocks to add extra charm. Thankyou so much for investing your time to make these for us. I've bookmarked it. Amie-Tennessee :oD
Thank You'
Such an easy explination on
these stiches! thankyou so much for investing your time to make these for us.
I like wonderful videos.
Thank you so much! I was taking a sewing class and did not know how to make a french knot and this really helped! This is a great resource for sewing!!
Thanks a million! We couldn't quite understand the written directions in our embroidery kit, but now my daughter and I can both do the french knot with ease! :)
Your videos are fantastic. Not only are the instructions clear and really easy to follow, your voice is calm and soothing. Great to calm down the frustrated stitcher!! Eternal gratitude. Sandy
Thank you SO much for this excellent tutorial -- I've been trying to figure these out forever and you made it so easy!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I struggled for for two days trying to make french knots. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. After viewing your tutorial twice, I made one on the first try! I'm now on my fifth consecutive knot. Stichin' days are here again!
Thank you so much for the easy to follow tutorial on french knots.
brilliant :)
Absolutely fabulous! You make it look so easy... and it IS once it is being done correctly. Thank you very much for showing me how :)
Thankyou! I've been struggling so muhc with frnch knots and this has helped immensly
SOOO Helpful!! Explained and shown exactly how to do it, better than any books. Thank you so much!!
Thank you soooo much!!! I haven't made a french knot since I was a girlscout and you brought it right back. I thought it would be like riding a bike and it wasn't and I was lucky to find your site!
You are so wonderful!!! Since I've never embroidered/stitched in my life, I wondered whether I would be able to carry it through. I just recently got the 'bug' to create something for my son, who's only one years old. After browsing the web and buying books/magazines on sewing/embroidery, I got overwhelmed with the information. Once I read some of your posts and watched the videos, I realized that I could actually do these stitches. Thank you so very much for having the videos and the illustrated tutorials; they're a life saver and I cannot wait to try the basics and make something for my son. Please don't ever stop what you're doing and don't ever think that you're doing too much. I'm just so inspired right now, I'm elated!
xxx
Annie
Thank you so much! I can now do french knots like a pro. This tutorial is amazing!
Emma
Thank you so much for such a great video. I now can finish the project I have been working on. This is a real help. I will be checking out more videos in the future.
WoW!--- thank you very much.
I'm doing the french knot on a baby blanket I just finished.
I'm amazed it's so easy.
Great tutorial
Wow, I'm glad that everyone had good luck. My biggest problem is that I'm left-handed and I have to do it backwards...still can't get it. Very sad. Great video, though.
Hey I am from India,
Its an excelllent site,we can easily learn embroidery through this demonstration.
I have personally paid fees to learn hand embroidery, but by the time i come home i tend to forget the method.
I am very thank full for creating such informative sites
I had no idea how to do this, and I found your video! I'm so thankful. After watching you make the very first knot I was able to make a french knot. You're a life saver!
Thanks!
-Scarlett
Denton, TX
Thank you so much for this easy video! Up until this point I had yet to figure it out and was freaking since I am doing a Thomas Kinkade kit that is practically ONLY french knots!
Thank you. Great video!!
Bless you. I've done French knots before, but not for awhile and I could not remember. Written instructions went way over my head, but this was perfect.
i am a pro in french knots now!
you've helped alot, thank you!!
hey mary...
i was looking at the french knots video.... and i noticed ur floss was not doubled... is it like that for all stitch technique or was that just for the french knot???
Hi, Jules -
I'm using perle cotton in the video, so no, it wouldn't be doubled. Even with stranded cotton, you don't have to double your floss. If you want teeny tiny French knots, you can just use one strand of cotton. If you want bigger knots, add the number of strands you need to get the size you want.
With perle cotton, you don't usually double it, as it's already pretty darned thick! :-)
Hope that helps!
MC
Thanks for posting this video. I'm curious about about how you anchor the beginning and end of a single french knot.
When you first place your needle through the fabric, do you first knot the thread to anchor it on the reverse side? I'm assuming this is so, because you need to have tension on the thread.
Then to end the stitch, do you stitch through the anchoring knot on the reverse?
Thanks for your wonderful site. I visit at least once a week. I've learn a LOT! :)
Susan
Thanks for posting this video. I'm curious about about how you anchor the beginning and end of a single french knot.
When you first place your needle through the fabric, do you first knot the thread to anchor it on the reverse side? I'm assuming this is so, because you need to have tension on the thread.
Then to end the stitch, do you stitch through the anchoring knot on the reverse?
Thanks for your wonderful site. I visit at least once a week. I've learn a LOT! :)
Susan
Hi, Susan -
That's a good question! I'll address that if I ever re-make this video!
But, in the meantime, if you look under "tips and tricks for hand embroidery" in the top right column on the website, you'll find there a list of articles that are instructive, and under there, and index on different ways to start and end threads. These aren't the only ways, but the only ones I've written whole posts about!
Anyway, normally for French knots, if I'm using a fine thread, it's easy enough to work a couple tiny anchor stitches over one thread, and then to work the French knots on top of that. Otherwise, if there are other embroidered areas right close by, I'll work anchoring stitches in the areas close by that will be embroidered, then carry the thread over. Even with heavy thread, you can usually manage anchor stitches and stitch into them or over them somehow. It's better than a knot, anyway, I think...
Hope that helps!
MC
I am working on my first ever cross stitch, (of a Geisha) that uses several French Knots and I must admit, I have been alittle intimidated by this step. But watching your video and doing it at the same time, was an incredible help!
Thank you so much. So much easier to see how it's done than to read how it's done!
Thankyou so much for your explanation on sewing the french knot I have try,ed all way,s but i could not do it. Thank you for your video it was a great help
thank you SO MUCH I cross stitch occasionally but I have never (and I can't figure out how because its such a common stitch) come across a french knot and the instructions in the kid make absolutely no sense unless you can actually see it.....its got all this point A point B stuff.....again thanks BUNCHES!!!!! :D
~Pandahh
Great video, thank you!
This is a very good video! I'm almost finished with a cross-stitch project and saved the french-knots for last. I got it now!
Thanks for the video!!
Thanks! My Grandma taught my embroidery and I wanted to do this stitch but couldn't remember! Thanks for all the help!
Thanks! My grandma taught my embroidery 3 summers ago and I took it up quickly. I recently had some projects to embroider and had forgotten how to do this stitch! Thanks for the reminder! :D
Thank you so much! This is the clearest video I have found anywhere! I was getting very frustrated that after spending I don't even want to think how long on this huge dolphin picture, I couldn't do the detailing on the bubbles. Thanks again :)
FINALLY!!!! I finally made a French knot thanks to this video. Thank you!!
Wonderful. After starting out in the dark, I only watched the first french knot that you do and I was able to finish my work..! Many thanks.
Thanks sooo much for a clear explanation-now i can finish a project long neglected...
Thank you so much, havent done French knots for years, and am doing a quilt for my great grandchild of 3 months...this tutorial has been absolutely great.
Phyllis (78)
awesome
Thank you for your help. I now can make a french knot
very helpful!!
the best how to on the french knot.
it was helpful including the minor mistake on the sixth knot -- since it showed me how to make the knot step by step at a Slower pace!
great site :)
thank you
very helpful!!
the best how to on the french knot.
it was helpful including the minor mistake on the sixth knot -- since it showed me how to make the knot step by step at a Slower pace!
great site :)
thank you
Thank you for your site. I am looking for an example of how to do an elongated french knot. I saw it in a book around the edge of a felt seahorse. Perhaps it has a different name? Thank you.
Hi, Camille -
Well, you're right - it is called something else: pistol stitch. It's exactly what you said, though - an elongated French knot. So, instead of putting your needle back into the fabric right next to where you came up, you take it down as far away as the length of the stitch, so that you end up with a long straight stitch with the knot ending up on the very tip of the long stitch.
Hope that helps!
MC
Great site, I am going back to my embroidery days and one thing I never learnt was the french knot, well I don't really know many stiches. Anyway, I found your site really really helpful.
K
Bardzo dobrze i przystępnie pokazane. :)
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