A French knot is a decorative embroidery stitch that creates a small, raised knot on fabric. It is also known as Knotted Stitch. It is often used to add texture, dimension, or detail to embroidery designs.
Here’s how to create a French knot:
Thread your needle:
Choose a thread that is suitable for your project and thread it through a needle. You can use embroidery floss, pearl cotton, or any other thread that works well with your fabric.
Bring the needle up:
Insert the needle from the backside of the fabric to the front at the desired location for the French knot.
Hold the thread:
Hold the thread firmly with your non-dominant hand, making sure it doesn’t slip or tangle
Wrap the thread:
With the needle in your dominant hand, wrap the thread around the needle a few times. The number of wraps will depend on the size of the knot you want to create. Generally, 2-4 wraps are sufficient.
Insert the needle:
While holding the wraps in place, insert the tip of the needle back into the fabric close to the spot where you brought it up. Make sure to insert it very close to the entry point to secure the wraps
Tension and pull:
Gently pull the needle and thread through the fabric, but not too tightly. This will form a small knot on the surface of the fabric.
Secure the knot:
To secure the knotted stitch, insert the needle back into the fabric a short distance away from the knot. Bring the needle out on the backside of the fabric and make a small knot or weave the thread through nearby stitches to prevent it from unraveling.
Knotted Stitch can be used individually as accents or combined with other embroidery stitches to create intricate designs. Practice and experimentation will help you achieve the desired size and consistency of your French knots. Remember to keep the tension of the wraps and the thread consistent for a uniform appearance.
