The colonial knot is used in hand embroidery in the same applications as the French knot. Here’s a video tutorial to help you get the hang of the colonial knot.
For ideas for application, check out these flowers made from French knots. There’s also this filled flower, which is (incidentally) also French knots:
I tend to use the French knot more than the colonial knot, but both stitches can be used interchangeably. Anything you can do with a French knot, you can do with a colonial knot! Some stitchers find the colonial knot easier than the French knot, and visa-versa, so it’s really up to you which one you use.
Here’s the Colonial Knot Video:
If you’re looking for more instruction on embroidery stitches, feel free to check out my whole collection of hand embroidery videos here on Needle ‘n Thread.
This is a great new stitch, thanks!
Thankyou this tutorial was the only one that helped me understand the colonial stitch!! Heather.
Thank you for producing these videos! I needed to learn how to do some basic stitches for showing Brownie Scouts how to decorate their clothes. Thank you for helping me put together a quick 3 stiches the Stem Stitch, Lazy Daisy and the Colonial knot made a wonderful flower on a pair of socks! An ambitious project made easier. Thank you Thank you Thank you.
I’m so glad it came in handy and helped you on your Brownie project!
Thanks for an excellent video on this stitch! I can’t wait to check out your other videos when I have more time.
Thank you so much for making these videos! They are very well done and I find them so helpful. I couldn’t figure out the colonial stitch until I saw this video. Thanks again!
Thanks for the great video! Finally, after 22 years of stitching, I can make a knot. Seeing it done helped me so much.
I have not embroider since I was a child and I needed a refresher on the basics. Your videos are wonderful and it has all come back to me. Thank you so much.
Jennie in VT
Very clear and easy to follow. Thanks so much!
very good and clear but would like to see a video as a left handed person like myself do it. I had to watch over several times because I had to reverse it.Thank you.
I have tried so hard to learn Colonial knots from books and diagrams and alwyas failed. For the first time I really understand what to do – thank you, I am now off to practice.
I could not get the flow of this stitch until I saw your video. Fantastic! The repetition is so helpful also.
Thank you!! I started to do a Christmas lamb w/colonial knots. As time has gone by I forgot how to do it. Thank you.Dale Coe Schultz
I had a hard time understanding the paper directions. So I did a search and found your site. I thank you so much for this site. I have a much better understanding of stitches.
MUCHAS GRACIAS, AHORA SOY FELIZ AL FIN PUDE ENTEDER COMO SE HACE EL NUDO COLONIAL. LOS FELICITO, SUS VIDEOS SON MUY CLAROS Y LOS ENTIENDO A LA PERFECCION. SALUDOS Y BENDICIONES
Your site and your tutorials are priceless. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise.
Thanks so much. The tutorial on the colonial knot and wheat stitch were so easy to follow.
Thanks much–very clearly described and shown, and exactly what I was looking for. You have a real talent for instruction.
Hi, Rebbecca – thanks for your comment! Glad the video came in handy – I’m actually in the process of re-filming this one and updating it, but I’m glad to know the “old” one works!
~MC
I learned to embroider as a child. My Grandmother and Mother also embroidered. I recently became interested again. My plan is to embroider gifts for the holidays! Your tutorial and website will certainly help me to do that. . .so much easier then reading written directions.
The tutorial was awesome! Thank you!
SWEET new video thanks!!!
Hi Mary! I posted a few days ago about my French Knots pulling through and I’ve been trying to get them to stop pulling through, but about half of them still are. I’m pretty bummed about it, but I think I might just replace all of my future French Knots with Colonial Knots, since it accomplishes the same thing, but the manner in which the Colonial Knots are created virtually guarantees that they won’t pull through! Thank you so much for all of your amazing tutorials! I keep your page open on my tab at all times since I just got into embroidery and you have an extensive collection of tutorial videos! Your site is amazing and I love your free patterns! We are so blessed that you understand all of these stitches and pass along the knowledge! Thank you for all that you do!!!
Thank you Mary. This looks so easy. I’m off to practise now.
Good Afternoon Mary..!!
Its amazing for me to go through your how to videos from which I am learning a lot. Now a days in this generation the tradition work and embroidery had lost its importance but you have kept it alive.
My grand Ma knows the old traditonal stiches but due to the age problem she is unable to teach me. But you did it for me in learning this art. Honestly its like Blessing for me..
Thanks Mary
Mary I finally got the colonial needle….it does make a tighter neater knot…thanks so much for a great tut….why do they call it colonial?
Is the Colonial knot the same as a double-twist knot stitch?
Barbara
Your collection of tips & videos is perfect. What I’m curious about is how one anchors this knot, or the French knot, to the fabric. Say I was using this for two eyes in a face, do I need to make any knots on the backside or is there another way to secure it?