I am having trouble making a French knot in my cross stitching is there an easier way to do it?

Question

I always end up just making a line and not a knot. I've been to a lot of web sites to see how to do it but I am still unable to do it the right way.

Answer 1

I struggled with this forever!! Just in the last year or so have I gotten better at it. What I do is hold the needle close to the fabric and loop the floss a bit loosely around the needle twice . Then I insert the needle into the hole sliding it down to where the floss is wound around it, gentle pinch the floss around the needle down on to the fabric with my thumbnail, and carefully pull the needle and remaining floss through the wound floss and hole. The remaining thread on the needle will hold the floss that you've wound onto the needle into a knot. Be very careful not to pull too quickly or too tightly or else your knot will slip through the hole. Take a piece of scrap cloth and some floss and practice until you're comfortable with it. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

If you've been to websites for directions I won't post links here. It does get easier with practice.

However, I usually don't do French knots anymore since I discovered the Colonial knot.

http://www.serve.com/marbeth/colonial.gif

http://www.fruncesybordados.com.mx/Colonial%20Knot.htm

I have friends who prefer to use seed beads than try either knot. They say it works well so that's an option, too.

Answer 3

I hate that stitch too...lol what I do now is just make a simple knot in the floss and pull it through, hope that helps .
take care ,
Val