French Knot

What you will learn

• Wrapping the needle
• Holding thread tension
• Placing knots

Materials and tools

• Embroidery hoop, 5 or 6 in (13 or 15 cm)
• Plain cotton or linen practice fabric
• Embroidery (crewel) needle, size 5 to 7
• Six-strand embroidery floss
• Embroidery scissors
• Water-soluble or heat-erasable marking pen

Before you start

• Put the fabric in the hoop so it is drum-tight.
• Cut 18 in (45 cm) of floss, separate the strands you need, thread the needle and knot one end.

1. Come up where you want the knot. Hold the thread about 2 in (5 cm) from the fabric with your other hand, pulled gently taut.
2. Lay the needle against the taut thread and wrap the thread round the needle twice, toward the point.
3. Still holding the thread taut, turn the needle point back to the fabric and insert it one or two fabric threads away from where you came up. Not the same hole, or the knot will pull through.
4. Slide the wraps down the needle until they sit snug on the fabric surface.
5. Keep holding the thread taut with your other hand and push the needle through to the back. Let go only when the last loop of thread is closing.
6. The knot sits on the surface. Move on to the next one, or finish on the back.

Tips for a neat result

• Thread tension is the whole trick. Hold it taut until the very last moment.
• For a bigger knot use more strands. More than two or three wraps makes a loose, floppy knot.

Common mistakes and fixes

Check your result

• A firm round bump sits on the surface.
• It does not wobble or unravel when rubbed.

Projects that use this