French knots are the bane of any stitcher. Many
will completely avoid any pattern that calls for them while others will just
suffer through them, never being satisfied with the results. There are ways to
make the knot easier though. One tip that I’ve heard is to use a beading needle.
Since it is so much smaller, the knot won’t be pulled through the fabric. I
still recommend using two threads and wrapping it twice around the needle
though.
Another alternative is to use a colonial knot
instead. This knot is easier to do, and creates a similar result.
How to make the colonial knot:
Pull the thread through to the front of the
fabric.
Put the thread over the needle, from front to
back.
Note: Hold the thread in your non-needle hand
between thumb and index finger. Push the thread to form the loop.
Pull the thread under the needle, then up and
over the tip of the needle. This is critical to the colonial knot. Note that
this will create a figure 8. From this point, the colonial knot is exactly
like the French knot.
Insert needle tip going over one thread to the
upper right (to NE).
Pull the working thread very firmly so the
knot slides down the needle shaft and rests on the fabric. The coils must be
tight.
Pull the working thread to the left of the
knot. This is critical to success. Put your non-needle thumbnail smack on the
knot, thus holding the knot and the working thread against the fabric.
Keeping tension on the working thread and your
thumb on the knot/fabric, send the needle to the back, letting off tension
just as the eye of the needle passes through the knot. Make sure the left
thread is still lying to the left so it will come to rest properly. Tighten.
Keep thread tension to next stitch firm so the
knot stands up.
A great diagram of the stitch can be found at
http://www.marthabeth.com/colonial.gif. I would also recommend using a
needle with a smaller eye since a larger eye can disrupt the coils as it goes
through.
