French Knots - How To Do Them Correctly

Learn the correct way to make French Knots perfectly every time!

[@mae790]

Her - “it gets all messy” Me (not a sewer or an embroiderer) - “ooo pretty knot”

[@MsKahly]

I was thinking the same thing! 😂

[@marygrinter4878]

i know. the messy one looks like a small rose.

[@cd1496]

Same!🤷🏽‍♀️

[@NotErine]

Samee lol

[@CherryBlossomBlyue]

@G T yes

[@yeetabix8012]

Mate I can't even do the ''wrong" one 😭😭

[@rasidatabiodun1197]

me to girl

[@thechosenone9769]

Are you wrapping the thread the right way on the needle? Basically pull the thread up through the fabric and hold the thread in place a few inches from the fabric. Wrap the needle tip pointing away from the fabric (towards where you are holding the thread.) If you wrap it with the point going towards the fabric it will untwist and pull through the fabric leaving you with basically nothing. I hope that helps.

[@thechosenone9769]

@@rasidatabiodun1197 that ^^^^ (my other reply) might help.

[@sianselvaggi2404]

Me neither 🤣

[@BADDIELN05]

@@thechosenone9769 thank u so much this is what i was doing wrong. In the tutorials ive seen before theyve never add this tip and it rlly helps

[@spongebobavocado3727]

I really like both versions to be honest and I think the wrong one would be the correct one in some contexts. For example for my lavander embroidery I used the wrong version and in my view it looks much better with a "messier" knot than with a clean one. But great tip! I see some people didnt know how to make the knot look clean.

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

SpongeBob Avocado totally! There are certain situations where I also prefer a looser knot to achieve certain textures. I find a lot of people complain about struggling to get that nice tight knot so that’s what I was trying to show!

[@spongebobavocado3727]

@@riverbirchthreads4791 I agree! It's a really great tutorial! Very helpful! Could you also post a video about how to avoid wrinkling when embroidering?

[@jennypockets]

Yes, I agree. When I did my fashion diploma we were taught 'the right way' and I chose to do some seams 'the wrong way' ...my tutor told me once you know the right way you can experiment with other ways. So, I think, there is no wrong way if it's what you want. (as long as it doesn't fall apart lol).

[@CherryBlossomBlyue]

Yeah the messy one looks like rose. I guess you can use both versions to fit your needs

[@arwensadler8773]

I can see a mixture of the two would look lovely in some contexts, but great tutorial, very clear 👍

[@dakotadaroza4594]

You have just saved me HOURS of frustration I've been having, I have watched every video I can find and struggled till your video. Thank you!!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Dakota DaRoza oh I’m So glad to hear that this helped!!

[@aliyahaqilah7744]

0

[@GreenZebra2795]

I like the messy ones for tiny roses

[@brittblank1852]

Everyone's got their own learning style and your video is the first tutorial that actually helped me do the French knot correctly 😭🙏🏼

[@wintrygarden]

I usually do my French knots the messy way and like the look of it, but it's very nice to know how to do them cleanly when needed as well! This is a great demo to show the simple tweaks needed to improve the knot.

[@mameemia]

you didnt have to call me out like that lol that's *EXACTLY* how i do my french knot ( the wrong one )

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Haha oh no sorry Wendy!! The truth is there’s no “right” way, it’s whatever look you are going for! 😊

[@bentoboxes1171]

River Birch Threads I agree the “Wrong way” is good for roses 😌

[@lauraw1840]

Thanks! This was so helpful! It showed me Exactly where I was goofing up!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

L Watt awesome!! Thanks for watching :)

[@angelicagutierrez2059]

You saying goofing up was so cute my heart-

[@silverlining1973]

Ditto!

[@jenni._.2240]

mine never comes out like that😭 like when I pull it the whole thing comes off

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

J M that sounds like you are going back down through the fabric through the same hole you came up through! You want to go back down right beside the point you came up. See if that helps! 😊

[@sheilacripps9340]

River Birch Threads I must be doing the same thing as the knot just isn’t there! It is also a little awkward as I am very left handed! I tried yesterday to construct some. I learned to crochet right handed and I knit right handed learned when I was very young....The sewing, I was unable too! I’ll keep trying as I have completed a cross stitch and it has quite a few French Knots and it will look wrong without them. Thank you for the tutorial! This too I shall overcome!

[@maggiej1791]

try doing it in the other direction

[@sheilacripps9340]

maggie j I did finally get it! Even though my cross-stitch piece was only small it had about 40 French knots, I couldn’t leave them out. Now on to another small project. I hope you are doing okay during this time we are going through. Praying everyday that this will soon be over. I hate wearing face masks! I feel like I’m hyperventilating after a while. Blessings to you.

[@zippy6185]

@@riverbirchthreads4791 thanks I always have the same problem😊

[@user-pu5co3xc2c]

Ohmygod... now I know why my french knots looked like roses every single time I try to do them! Thank you...thank you

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

정룻휘 yay!! So glad my video was helpful to you

[@AsAboveISoBelow]

Have I embroidered in the last 20 years? No. Did I watch this all the way through after KZbin recommended it to me? Yes. Edit: I also subbed. xD

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Illumina haha that’s ok! Never too late to get back into it 😘

[@deborahbee7122]

Ok ok, so this actually kinda saved me because I wanted a "looser" knot for my project but I kept getting really tight knots and this showed me what to do, thanks!

[@wrinkleintime4257]

Thank you!!! French knots are the bane of my embroidery existence!

[@alyk4683]

I learned very quickly to hold the thread. I’ve also found that wrapping it three times works well and gives a slightly bigger knot. I also like the affect that a looser knot gives sometimes (though you have to be careful the thread doesn’t tangle and knot too soon. Honestly I find satin stitch harder than french knots.

[@GregoryAnderson]

Yes, I've tangle-knotted many a french knot until I saw this difference. I gave up trying to french knot for some time now; I just built up straight stitches on each other if needs be.

[@laceylarsen8062]

I love the satin stitch! Stem stitch however, (k)not so much. I am currently working on a Halloween embroidery that had me satin stitch bats and getting the points perfect was a challenge but i am not looking forward to the stem stitch lettering.

[@jflsdknf]

I like the looser knots too. They're prettier to me

[@penelopeofithaca3071]

This video is the first one to teach me how to do a French knot! All the others that I tried would just make the knot come untied. Thank you so much!

[@zazuzazz5419]

Thank you for your thoughtful, clear demonstration. Both types of knot: tight/concise and loose/over the top - prove extremely successful for different effects. It’s lovely to understand the underpinnings of a method. 🧵

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Zazu Zazz it’s very true! I often use a looser knot for certain effects as well! I guess the video was aimed more at how to make the knots nice and tight for someone struggling and only able to produce the loose look

[@mctron22rd]

I am glad I found you! I couldn't find anything that was very basic for beginners. I mean I cant make a bouquet of flowers if I barely know how to make a line of perfect stitches! I really appreciate that you started from the beginning, of embroidery and you didn't start from building bouquets right away. I hope you stick with it tho!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Crystal and Robert Dominguez thanks Crystal! Glad this video helped you! It is my goal to put out more in the next few months that will be aimed at beginners! :)

[@victoriagardiner2155]

I cannot thank you enough 🎉 I have never found anyone who explains it in a way I understand but by showing the wrong way I have finally got it! A thousand thank yous ❤

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

I’m so glad to hear my video was able to make everything click for you! All the best 😊

[@torib519]

Wow you are a very good teacher! Clear, detailed instructions, and a camera angle + pace that made it easy to see how you did it. Thanks so much for the great advice

[@vicki9452]

Thank you!!! I have been struggling with these for so long and your video is the only one that explained to keep tension and has entirely fixed the hours of frustration I had with these.

[@rutgerberit]

Ooh, the asmr when the floss is pulled through the fabric... *drool*

[@lesleydevaney7086]

Oh I don’t like it at all 😬

[@Dre4m_Fever]

My thought exactly

[@gnarlycarley5550]

@Tianna Elizalde I have misophonia as well, it's beyond disruptive lol I know exactly what you mean

[@gnarlycarley5550]

@Tianna Elizalde Me either! its brutal lol my biggest trigger is children, so anytime I hear a kid scream, talk or laugh I have a breakdown and shut down. I talked to my doctor about it and I'm starting cognitive behavioural therapy and I take 200g of sertraline a day to chill out (it helps a bit) I suppose I do have physical reactions like if I hear a kid I lay in bed an cry myself to sleep lol and I contemplate taking my life over it too, I sweat as well, I literally CANNOT stand the voice of a child (I dont dislike kids I just get an unexplained reaction when I hear them 🤷🏻‍♀️) take care of yourself!! Noise can have such a serious impact on people's lives, I've never seen anyone admit they have misophonia, I think it should be discussed more! x Edit: grammar mistake

[@gnarlycarley5550]

@Tianna Elizalde you're such a sweetheart, thank you!! I hope it gets easier for you too! And omg the gum chewing thing lol people think that's what I mean when I say I cant stand noises lol but its so much deeper than that!! I haven't started the cognitive behavioural therapy yet because of covid but I think itll basically be teaching me coping mechanisms, problem solving, correcting behaviours or thought patterns. I have severe OCD which impacts my misophonia, I think my doctor wants to tackle the ocd first. CBT is complex I just heard about it 1 year ago but theres plenty of info on google!! It's used for body dysmorphia disorder as well. And omg the headphones are a life saver eh, I cant help myself but blast it in my ears 😂. sweetest reply I've ever read, you have a heart of gold. Stay blessed and thank you again x 😇

[@JasmineFaith]

Ughhh you are an embroidery angel! I’ve only done french knots once before, and I struggled so much to even do them to start with, let alone do them nice and neat! (They were for pupils, so neat looks far better than messy) It took me at least an hour to get all four knots done satisfactory enough. Had I had this tutorial at the time, I would have had a much better time of it. Your video is amazing. It’s short and sweet and gets straight into the heart of the matter, and you explain the method so well. I’d been struggling to do a french knot again when I found this, and I can say that the next french knot I did was the best I’ve ever done in one try!

[@sunshine.ananas]

I actually do it the wrong way on purpose because I like that they come out bigger that way :D

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

picturesque.pineapple yeah! Honestly that’s part of the fun of them, if you purposely keep them loose you get a different look! I shouldn’t have labelled it “wrong” but instead a “looser knot” 👍🏼

[@sarahjsb4160]

Oh my goodness! This is perfect! I struggled for an hour doing it the 'wrong way' till I got frustrated and stopped. But on to a fresh attempt tomorrow. Thank you so much! 😊

[@theresa74]

This is the best video tutorial on French knots. I’ve spent a frustrated afternoon watching and trying and I’ve cracked it now. Thank you x

[@taraarmour4880]

OMG!!!! THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!! off and on for about 25 years I have dreaded when this stitch comes up in the pattern!!! I can never get it right!! even in this same baby blanket I'm currently making I watched a different video and still couldn't get it right! Watched you do it once and got it immediately!!!! Thank you soooooo much!!!!

[@toniparizek6897]

My grandmother tried teaching me this year's ago before she passed and I could never get it to look right until now! Thank you for such a clear and precise tutorial!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Thanks for watching! Glad you figured it out 😊

[@lauraoxlade5269]

Thank you - best French knot video!!! I’ve done a million of them now and they’re finally perfect for once 🙌🏻

[@momsphonephone8592]

Thank you so much. I have been hating French knots for decades. My instructions never mentioned how to move the direction of the needle when wrapping the thread. Without even doing it myself I can see how that will fix my knots coming loose. Thank you again.

[@soniainguanez211]

Thanks, you made learning this easy! I kept making a mess of my knots before I found your very helpful tips! After watching it once, they turned out perfect xx

[@rahimdana]

Thank you so much!! I've been wrecking my brain over French knots for the past couple of days and NOW for once I managed to make a proper one 😍

[@strawberryjones7193]

I ran across this and just had to watch it. Very good demonstration. Happy to know I have been doing it correctly and totally get it about how they can get messy and oversized like the "not" side..

[@KatMarshmallow]

I’ve been trying to figure out French knots from a kit instructions and this helped me immediately get it in less than 3 minutes! Thank you!

[@sv3524]

Just found this…first time I’ve been able to do a French knot after watching. Simple, clear instructions. Thank you

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Glad you had success! Thanks for the kind words :)

[@deepthijay9855]

Yassss!! The correct way is amazing!!! So glad i found this. Thank you 😁

[@lyngilbert5684]

Dear Heart, thank you for this video. Am working on a sunflower embroidery project - a birthday present for my son's amazing partner and then centers of the sunflowers are all french knots. This helps tremendously. All Love

[@sssaggeyy]

Seriously the best video. I’ve been struggling for almost 24hrs. Thank you!

[@Ophelia11]

Short, sweet and to the point. THANK YOU! 🥰

[@ToniMorgan14]

This was such a helpful video! I just started my first embroidery project and with just a single view of this I was able to figure out what I needed to do. Thank you so much!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Amazing! Thank you for watching!!

[@Learnwithsaleha5505]

Same here

[@lex-fy7wn]

this is the first and only video that has made me understand how to do a french knot and whew is that a relief!!!!!!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Amazing! So glad it helped you :)

[@marygrinter4878]

Do you do any ASMR videos? The embroidering sound on this video is sooo lovely - I'd love to listen to it without talking.

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Mary Grinter I haven’t made any yet! But the suggestion has come up a few times so perhaps I will make a video soon 😃

[@marygrinter4878]

@@riverbirchthreads4791 please do! whatever you're using for sound currently is INCREDIBLE. all you'd have to do is record you doing one of your embroidery projects and we'd watch soo much of it

[@Dani_Saurusrex]

You are a life-saver. This was the only explanation that really helped me and made a difference!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Yay!! So glad 😄

[@TheRiseley]

This has been a great help for me. I am making a felt "Lowly worm" for my grandsons. I wanted something safe for the buttons, as they are very young. These French knots should be perfect. Thank you.

[@Fizzchic]

Wow! I’ve been trying to get the French knot right for years and after your video it was too easy! Thank you for this~

[@Siddiqashuborna]

I’m just trying to learn hand embroidery as a hobby and yesterday same was happening with me! Couldn’t do the French knot nicely but kind of guessed it later I gotta hold the thread tight with left hand. Your video is very helpful. Thanks 😊

[@mia-dv1ps]

I've been struggling for days and FINALLY managed to do french knots. THANK YOU

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

mia yess!!! This makes me so happy 😁

[@annajacobson3299]

Thank you!!! Ive been trying for hours to figure this out. I think I get it now!!

[@mishmashy]

Thank you so much!! I've been clueless on these for so long but now might understand!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

They are intimidating at first!! I remember really struggling to get them but then they will just click one day if you keep at it :)

[@mancinasn09]

Thank you for this video. Can’t wait to see more of them!

[@cookiegamesfamily]

Thank you for this video! I am teaching myself cross stitching and the pattern said it needed French knots and I was so confused. I've been looking everywhere and this is the best video I've found on how to do them correctly! It's like a light bulb clicked in my head! Thank you again! 😊 ❤

[@blowbubbles72]

THANK you! I have always avoided doing French nuts because I have never been able to make one come out correct. I now have the confidence to try

[@emilinebelle7811]

The sound of the needle and thread coming through is to die for!! You should make an Asmr with just you doing this kind of stuff with that sound.

[@viniciuscosta1097]

Emiline Bellé check Diana Vingert channel then, it’s really therapeutic

[@emilinebelle7811]

Vinicius Costa thanks!

[@Rocky_Inspire]

This is the best tutorial on this that I’ve been able to find! Thank you!

[@knellwal]

I’ve never made a good French Knot in my life - watched your video, and the first one came out GORGEOUS!!! 😳

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Wow!! I’m so glad you figured it out 😊

[@tracyc2940]

This is the first time I managed to make any French knot. Thank you!!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Yay!! That’s awesome. Thanks for watching 😊

[@Creature_of_Knight]

Her - "maybe fill in a big circle, as boring as that sounds" Me - whips my head around to glare at the half filled sunflower center I have sitting across the room (at least I've been doing them right, but holy carp it takes f o r e v e r)

[@jwnepy]

LITERALLY SAVED ME THANK YOU!!!

[@NaydeenHhog]

I still come back to this video whenever i forget how to do a french knot and i wanted to do a correct one which I'm glad i found this video,this video is very informative, I'm trying do a french knot as eyes on my amigurumi pony project ,thanks so much again for this video

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Thank you! So glad you find it helpful. French knot eyes are tricky… I actually usually don’t use them because they are so 3D and can sometimes move and make the eye look funny!

[@lyly1212]

I just started embroidering and could not get the French Knot right. I have watched so many videos this week trying to figure it out and yours is the only one that clicked. THANK YOU!

[@CallMeMrRook]

Woah.... newbie starting today needing to these and that tension makes a difference. Many thanks :)

[@diane8620]

This is the best video explanation I’ve found!! Helped so much!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Thanks so much for watching! Thrilled it helped you :)

[@berrystuffarts1607]

Thank for this video! I know it’s old, but still. I just started dabbling in embroidery, and I thought the French knot looked so easy…. But I couldn’t even get a knot. I’ve watched several other videos, but yours was very nicely up close and and slow, I figured it out!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

I’m so glad it helped you !

[@erinjoyner3739]

God bless you. I have been trying this knot for twenty minutes now with no success. Found your video and got it right away. I don't know what it is about typical embroidery tutorial videos, but they go SO fast, it's impossible to catch on! You're the best!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

I’m so glad you found this helpful!!! 😊😊

[@lizziescanlan7387]

This was the most useful French knot video, thank you.

[@Soulfulshal1962]

Thank you so much - after so many years of trying to master French Knots, I think this time I may actually achieve it! 😊 x

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Sharon Langley awesome! So glad to hear 😊

[@karumasaurus8586]

Thank you this is my first good french knot!!! I couldnt wrap my head around it before your video

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Yay!! So glad to know this helped you :)

[@Daria-ng3ci]

I filled my whole area of my hoop and it really helped thank you! Before this I couldn’t even do one

[@EuphoriaInBloom]

I did it on my first few attempts! Thank you! it was very helpful seeing both ways

[@angelacable7517]

Thank you! You make it look so easy! I have fought with French knots so many years! I tried to fake it but the real deal look so nice

[@blowitoutyourcunt7675]

Super helpful! Great mike lol! Cheers!

[@deborahwortham4051]

Fantastic video to explain what should be a simple stitch. I’m always surprised when the knots turn out correctly. Now I know exactly what to do. TY so much.

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

DEBORAH WORTHAM thank you!’ And I’m glad you found it helpful. It should be the simplest stitch but somehow it seems to be the one we all struggle with!

[@elladesarae2340]

I just love the sounds

[@emkempfer]

I was struggling with these this morning 😂 This was so helpful because you showed both the correct way and incorrect way. My French knits are flawless now 😀

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 a Christmas miracle 😘

[@makeda6530]

I was fighting for my life to get it right, did the wrong one then did the right one by accident. Golly. Thank you so much!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Haha glad you are figuring it out! :)

[@doe2628]

I think you might be my favourite person ever. Thank you so much!!!

[@andreakubach6531]

Finally one Tutorial from where i Had success doing french knots. Thank you so much!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

So glad to hear that it helped you!

[@kathleen.dodge-dehaven]

I finally understand them! Thank you.

[@JooceGooseGames]

After so many failed attempts and so much frustration - nearly giving up the craft completely - thank you so much for this tutorial 😭 it's so helpful!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Yay!! I’m so glad you didn’t give up! Thanks for watching :)

[@silylily1212]

Big help! Simple and concise, thank you!

[@Stephaniebiela1]

I finally got one! Thank you!

[@heatherwendt9213]

THANK YOU!!! I’d always tried to do it the “wrong way” and that never worked for me. Now I can finally do a French knot!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Yay! So glad this helped you :)

[@marthalewis475]

Thank you, this was really helpful!

[@totallydomestic433]

That was a big help! Thanks

[@Niosesore]

You are a life savior! Thank you so much!!!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

You are so welcome!!

[@dawnmarie8550]

Yay I’ve done it wrong for 37 years 🧚🏽‍♀️

[@naomigwolfe8112]

37?! Lol

[@sonte9739]

Thank you for this! Super helpful!!

[@coolbabe459]

Thank you for making this video! I was making the knot too close to the end and wasn't making any knots. This video was a life saver!

[@katierandall9191]

This was very helpful, thank you 🙂 I've never done French knots before and there are some on my next project. Am definitely more confident about trying them now.

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

Katie Randall I’m glad to hear that! Don’t be surprised if you struggle a bit (I certainly did for a while!) they are a funny stitch that seems like it should be simple but many people have a hard time with them.

[@golu-gw5ww]

Thank you, very useful & great idea to share this !!! 👍

[@GurleenKaur-ic2li]

Thankyou so much ❗This video was much needed 💗

[@aubreyawinkie2923]

Finally was able to do it thank you!

[@user-zy4wv7yx1z]

I love examples that show the viewer what NOT to do, I learn so much better that way. Much appreciated, this video is! :)

[@Fanney47]

Thanks! This was super helpful.

[@lars1296]

I’ve been stitching for years and I always struggled with these. Thank you!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

French knots are tricky! Glad this helped you!

[@j.j.w.6431]

I have been doing it the wrong way for years. Thanks to you I will do it right in the future.

[@KTchiau]

Thank you for the explanations!

[@riverbirchthreads4791]

You are very welcome!!

[@luciebouvard1639]

So that's why I was struggling with my french knots ! Very helpful, thanks 👍

[@hunlyn82]

Thank you! Newbie here, and this is a perfect tutorial!

[@ghazalrashid8477]

Thanks alot. I was really struggling with that