Do you ever use hand embroidery stitches in your quilts? In my option, incorporating hand embroidery stitches can elevate its overall visual appearance and add a unique, personal touch.
Hand embroidery adds texture, dimension, and intricate detailing.... and all this creates focal points that draw the eye. Simple stitches like French knots, running stitches, and chain stitches can emphasize specific areas and create highlights, or create a sense of movement across the quilt. The added texture contrasts beautifully with the flatness of traditional piecing and quilting, making your design more dynamic.
I don't use hand stitches often enough but I do from time to time. You can see French Knots in this small challenge piece a number of years ago.
Today I thought I'd show you exactly how to make this simple stitch.
How to make a French Knot
1: Bring the needle up from the back where you want the knot to be placed.
2: With the needle tip pointing away from where the end comes up through the fabric, wrap the thread around the needle 2-4 times. Keep in consistent - the more wraps the bigger the knot will be.
3: Poke the tip of the needle back down very close to where the thread is coming up and pull the thread so the wraps pull into a knot near the surface of the fabric.
4: Use your thumbnail to hold the thread tight as you push the needle & thread through the knot and quilt. I usually make a single stitch on the back to secure it.
I've made a short video showing how to make a French Knot on a block I made some years back from of my Kaleidoscope of Hearts eBook
I have really enjoyed making this tutorial and now I want to use French Knots (and other hand embroidery stitches) in a quilt.... or maybe a quilt block. Actually, I've been meaning to remake my Hibiscus flower block again and this would be the perfect block to add some French Knots to. I'll let you know how I get on with it.
How about giving it a try? If you'd like to give it a try on this block, you can find the pattern here: Hibiscus Block pattern
