(This French Knot Poodle was stitched by Amy Bindel with our Lisa Petrucci Patterns!)

Are you a right-handed stitcher?
Your instructions are here:

~ FRENCH KNOT ~ 

Fear not, the French Knot! Never has another stitch inspired so much passion and hatred. So, I'm devoting an entire section to explaining how it's done. Moi? J'adore the French Knot! So quick and easy to do, and such a lovely knot to know! Non? So why is it so difficult to learn? (It's not. It's difficult to teach.)

I think the trick is in really understanding how it works instead of just hoping it will turn out right. It's really très simple, and a great stitch to have in your repertoire, so let's have a look at how it's done!

Usually, I encourage you to read stitching instructions with needle and floss in hand. Instead, this time I suggest you read through the steps first. I've tried to point out all the tricky little bits that make it work, but are almost never fully explained. Don't be scared off by all the steps, once you get the hang of it, they will all blend together in a quick flick of your wrist!

French Knot - Step One

You will need both hands, so set your hoop in your lap or work surface. With your non-needle hand (your right hand) pinch the floss a few inches from where it exits the fabric (where arrow is pointing). Hold it taut.

French Knot - Step Two

Place your needle in front of this stretch of floss. Notice the needle is in front of the floss, not coming from behind it. This will make the next step easier!

French Knot - Step Three

French Knot - Step Four

This is an important one! Re-insert the tip of your needle just next to, but not into the same exit point on your fabric. If you enter the same hole, your knot may pop all the way through when you finish (causing you to despair). So, simply return at a point a little bit away from the exit point. And hold it right there! Keep your needle in this position. Don't push it all the way through juuust yet. The next step is the most important one...

French Knot - Step Five

Remember your non-needle hand stretching the length of floss? I hope you didn't let go! This is when it goes to work. Give the floss a little downward tug with that hand, so that the coil will tighten up, and slide down your needle to make a little bundle against the surface of your fabric.

French Knot - Step Six

With your coil snugly held in position against the surface, now push your needle all the way through!

French Knot - Step Seven

See? You've just pulled your needle, and the floss trailing behind it, down through the center of the coil that was wrapped around the needle.

French Knot - Finished

Voilà! I knew you could do it. Keep practicing and you won't even have to think about the steps. And, if it didn't turn out just right the first time, don't worry- try it again and you'll eventually get the feel for it.

xoxox, Jenny