image via Ask Sister Mary Martha

Not having been raised Catholic, I only recently discovered these traditional miniature shrines called "détentes" ("relaxation" or "release" in French). Pockets shrines, hand-held objects of devotion with extremely delicate embroidery in gold and silver threads. They are like tiny jewels.

image via Altar Ardor

Would you like to know how the long French knots extending fromt the heart were made? I can show you!

First, you'll need to know how to work a French knot, so get good at that and check back next entry for the trick! (Hint: it's not just an extra stitch, but it's almost as easy as that.)

Check back for the tute!

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Related: My Love Is True PDF pattern (registered stitchers)