You know all about the French knot. Have you tried the Colonial Knot? Instead of twisting your thread several times around the tip of the needle to make a French knot, you loop the thread around the tip of your needle in a figure-eight format to make the Colonial knot. It’s super easy, a great stitch for beginners.
This is a great stitch when you want surface knots on the top of your fabric for your stitching project. It is a modern twist on the French knot. It may take a bit of practice, but I found after doing a few of them they were super easy to make!
How to Stitch the Colonial Knot
The Colonial knot is a hand embroidery stitch that is similar to the French knot. It's an easy stitch and perfect for beginners.
Use this knot like you would a French knot. They are great singly as small flowers or add several to the end of a straight stitch for a different flower look. Use them as filler for small areas where you want some texture.
This is one of those embroidery stitches that once you learn, you'll use time and again!
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Materials
- Embroidery floss or thread
- Fabric for embroidery
Tools
- Embroidery hoop
- Embroidery needle suitable for the thread or floss you selected
- Embroidery scissors
Instructions
- Start by hooping your fabric. I like to use a hoop to keep my fabric taut while stitching. Thread your needle. Bring your threaded needle up from the back of the fabric where you want the Colonial Knot. Move the working thread to the right and place your needle tip under the working thread.
- With your non-needle hand, move your working thread under your needle to the left, beginning to form a big loop.
- Take the working end of your thread and loop it around the tip of your needle, forming a figure eight.
- Gently pull on your working thread to tighten the figure eight loop around your needle. Holding the working thread, place the tip of your needle back through your fabric close to where you came up.
- Here is a side view of the needle going to the wrong side of the fabric forming the Colonial knot.
- And, one finished Colonial knot using #8 Perle cotton!
- Here are six Colonial knots using #3 Perle cotton.
Notes
See our video tutorial below
Recommended Products
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DMC Embroidery Floss Pack, Popular Colors, DMC Embroidery Thread, DMC Floss Kit Include 36 Assorted Color Bundle with DMC Mouline Cotton White/Black and DMC Cross Stitch Hand Needles. -
Valdani Perle Cotton Embroidery Thread Size 8 Vintage Hues Collection -
kai 5 1/2 inch Embroidery Scissors, Black Handle -
Caydo 6 Pieces Embroidery Hoop Set Bamboo Circle Cross Stitch Hoop Ring 4 inch to 10 inch for Embroidery and Cross Stitch
Prefer a video? Watch our YouTube video to see how to loop the thread around your needle. The first half of the wrap is easier to see in the video versus photos.
And, I show you how to do this with thicker thread in the video.
How is a Colonial Knot different than a French Knot?
With the Colonial knot, you wrap the embroidery thread or floss around your needle tip in a figure-eight fashion. With the French knot, you wrap the thread two or three times in the same direction around the tip of your needle. See our French knot tutorial for more information.
What types of thread can I use to make the Colonial knot?
Any type of thread. From six strands of floss, to any size of Perle cotton. It’s pretty on a loosely woven fabric with silk ribbon, too.
Browse through more embroidery tutorials on Create Whimsy.
