The laced backstitch used in hand embroidery is somewhat like the whipped backstitch. To create the laced backstitch, the needle passes under a line of previously stitched backstitches, but instead of always passing under the stitches in the same direction, the laced backstitch passes under in alternate directions from stitch to stitch. To put it really simply, the needle goes up under one stitch and down under the next.

Here’s a bit of embroidery inspiration for you from Judith, a reader here on Needle ‘n Thread. I love this, and I think it’s a terrific idea for a hand embroidery project.

Lately, I’ve been playing a lot – probably too much. There’s some serious work going on in my stitching world, too, but what’s been occupying me most pleasurably is the whole notion of Play.

Earlier this week, we looked at one way to create isolated French knots (or colonial knots, incidentally) without carrying threads across the back of the fabric.

Today, I’ll show you two other methods I use to begin isolated French knots (depending on the thread I’m using), and one method to secure practically any isolated knot after it’s made. Keep in mind that this is how I do it – this doesn’t mean there aren’t other (and probably better!) ways to start and end isolated French knots. But for those of you who don’t know how, if you try the methods suggested here, I think you’ll discover they both work.

I have a theory about embroidered knots. It’s not a profound theory. It’s actually a very simple theory, and it goes like this:

Seen one, seen ’em all.

Whether you’re stitching the French knot or the colonial knot, in the final result, there’s no great difference between the two.

In April of 2011, CBS ran a little blurb on the Royal School of Needlework, gearing up for the royal wedding that took place the same month. This past weekend, CBS re-ran the video on the Royal School of Needlework, with some interesting additions.

The Dot Dilemma – that harrowing situation of stitchery, when a thread carried between French knots is visible from the front of the work. How do you solve the problem of carried threads between isolated French knots?

Today we’ll look at one way to start and end isolated French knots. I call this the “Tied Off” method. Continue reading “Isolated French Knots, Part 1”