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How to sew French knots

10/9/2017

6 Comments

 
How to sew french knots. Video demonstration by Willowynn.com
French knots on one of my mushroom hanging ornaments
I made a little video demonstration (below), showing how to embroider French knots. I found this embroidery stitch quite tricky when I first tried it and looking at diagrams in embroidery books didn't really help me. But I've since taught myself how to sew them so thought I'd show you how I do it.

​The key is to hold the thread taut with one hand while you wrap it around the needle and insert it into the fabric. Hold on to the thread until just before it is pulled all the way through the fabric (see video below).

This is an example of a singular French knot but you can make them larger by wrapping the thread around your needle twice rather than once. This video shows how I stitch the French knots onto my fabric mushroom hanging ornaments.

​... and here is a little diagram showing French knots in more detail. I drew this a while ago for one of my sewing patterns. Enjoy!
French knot diagram. Copyright 2016. Margeaux Davis - Willowynn.com
6 Comments
Claudia
8/10/2017 02:53:32 am

Thank you so much for your tutorial - ah, this looks perfect. I am no good at French knots and am quite desperate when the pattern tells me to stitch some. But now I am sure it will be no problem any longer, the way you do it seems soooo doable!

Reply
Margeaux link
8/10/2017 11:09:05 am

It is my absolute pleasure Claudia. I needed to see it being done before I got it too :)

Reply
Claudia
5/11/2017 10:16:23 pm

Hello Margeaux - it's me again. I simply must tell you that I am working on a piece of embroidery for a Christmas present and at one point I was told to do French Knots. In former days I would have gone on strike and said : absolutely not! But now I just smiled and said: no problem! Knowing that I had saved your tutorial to my computer. So let me tell you that I have made dozens of teeny weeny absolutely perfect French knots and I am terribly proud of myself. I even shoved it under my husband's hands and told him to feel all those prefect knots. He was good enough to show surprise at
how well I done them. Haha! So thank you again very very much for your tutorial You have not only saved my day you saved the embroiderer's part of my life! Best wishes from Germany Claudia

Reply
Margeaux link
6/11/2017 02:10:33 pm

Oh that is so great to hear Claudia! Thank you for letting me know. That's exactly why I wanted to post this little video :)

Best wishes,
Margeaux

Reply
Claudia
6/11/2017 05:06:32 pm

Once again it shows what a wonderful place the internet can be. You from Australia giving me tips up here in northern Germany. So far away and yet so similar in what we do and try. If you would like to see what I do you can find me on instagram @ompompali - I'm quite new there. Thank you Margeaux

Margeaux link
7/11/2017 10:58:15 am

It is amazing isn't it... the way it connects us all? Thank you for sharing your beautiful work with me... I love your quilts.

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    Margeaux Davis aka Willowynn

    Hello

    My name is Margeaux Davis. I'm a doll-maker, sewing pattern designer and children's book illustrator, based in northern New South Wales, Australia.  

    ​Here I'll share what I'm making, as well as things I've learned and behind-the-scenes peeks to help you on your own creative endeavours. 


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