Your Ultimate Guide To French Knots! How to do it for beginners, how to fix it and where to use them

The only French knot video you will ever need! I cover everything to do with this versatile stitch starting with how to actually do it right at the beginning, and also how to do it if you are left handed. We then cover how to fix it if it goes wrong, talk about how many times to wrap a French knot, and look at different threads you can work them in! Make sure you hang around until the end to see some more pieces from my collection that include French knots.
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00:00 - Introduction & the equipment used
02:01 - Stitching the knot
04:04 - And now left-handed!
05:47 - Why things go wrong
13:51 - How many wraps to do
17:01 - Using different threads
29:02 - How to use French knots using some pieces from my collection as examples
Are you an embroidery beginner? Or thinking about how to get into the hobby? Go to the 'Beginning Embroidery' page on my website to learn more:
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[@amyjk23]

Thank you Sarah. I’ve watched a lot of tutorials and this is the only one that actually explained to me why my French knots weren’t working 🙏🏼

[@Joanne555]

I really loved this video! I LOVE French knots! Great ideas you have and great instructions! Thank you!

[@janetsteele7025]

Thank you SO MUCH for giving a left-handed explanation of how to effect the French Knot stitch! We lefties are often forgotten!

[@karenhurst3099]

Yes thank you so much for the left handed instructions! Great video overall. Finally learned how to make a French knot! 🥳

[@tanyawersinger2693]

I love your cat, adorable, and your knots are beautiful.

[@michelesalazar3397]

I’ve been watching French knot tutorials for 2 hours trying to figure out why I had loops instead of French knots. Yours was the only one that clearly explained the tension necessary to make a correct knot. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I also get a kick out of how ticked you get when Ginger cat makes an appearance😊

[@patarcher1813]

You know you're good when you intentionally try to make a mistake and you can't! You're so humble and such a great teacher.

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

It shows how good the method is if you learn it Pat!!

[@F.l.Vaughan]

10.10am thankyou so much for left hand demonstration. Makes perfect sense!!

[@illogical_illogical940]

I’m in the “love” french knot camp. This tutorial was very helpful in understanding techniques and troubleshooting. My french know have improved! Thank You.

[@crazy4doxies440]

My orange kitty always did this to me when I was quilting. Helper kitties are the best!!

[@MsOhsusanna]

Excellent video. So much information. I have 2 cats and they insist to lay on my projects.

[@Julianaao2601]

This was very very helpful, thank you very much ❤ also, your last White work is stunning!

[@ceriedwards6315]

Thank you so much for such a clear, well explained video!

[@jennypops02may]

Great video really well explained, thank you. Love your ginger friend. 😘

[@lily22lilyz]

Thanks a lot Sara... Greatful to find your channel

[@nyxquatorze5600]

I'm self taught when it comes to embroidery, been doing it a little over a year, and I've always hated doing french knots, but LOVE how cute they look. THANK YOU for this video. I struggle so many times with the needle not going through the fabric. I had no idea the solution was just to loosen the tension on my floss.

[@2024-b7x]

You are a genius

[@brenkyable]

Beautiful. Thank you. Yes. I have finally "got" the French knot .. . Love that Ginger cat 😄💜

[@whiteflag1000]

What a beautiful Cat :) Just like your lessons. Thx so much.

[@juliegolub2602]

This is the best video on making knots. I can't thank you enough 🥰

[@nadakodsia2635]

I loved so much the tutorial especially my dear lady the french knot made of metal coil, wonderful 👏👏💖

[@Miauwies]

You are teaching me so much, I'm so thankful. Thank you♥️😊

[@KayJohnsonArt]

A wonderful clear explanation. Your white piece at the end is so beautiful...

[@carlarigel252]

Thanks so much! Very interesting and helpful!

[@dootchan]

Ginger Cat is my hero

[@catherinemacdonald8847]

I am a 68 year old Canadian from Nova Scotia. I,ve been doing embroidery since I was a child,my late Maternal grandmother taught me but I,ve always had trouble with French knots. Thanks to your tutorial I,ve finally been able to do them to my satisfaction. I just found your 2 channels and i love them both. Thank you so much.

[@taluv462]

Thank you so much for showing the left handed version. Fabulous video.🙏😍

[@dollshousedilemmas6787]

Thank you ,I now know why this fantastic stitch isn’t always correct when I have done it .😊

[@emmaheck3954]

I’ve read & watched so many french knot tutorials and this is the only one that helped me successfully do it!!! Thank you!

[@ndbyers23]

Really excited to report that I watched both this video and also the express version. When I went to my sampler and worked the stitch I got a lovely result every time! Very exciting for me as this stitch was problematic. Thank you Sarah for your brilliant yet easy to understand explanations! 🥰

[@ekennedy9982]

Found you in the wee early morning when I couldn't sleep. This was the best tutorial on French knots that I've ever seen, and I believe they will never be feared by me again! Thank you so much for your easy, calm, explanation and visual aids to go with. I especially enjoyed watching you work with ribbon. Best lost sleep in a long time & well worth it. Thank you-

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

Thank you! At least I didn't send you to sleep E!

[@robinjohnston7986]

I would like to say thank-you for your video’s. I love them and I am learning so much. As I watch your video’s my work is getting better and better. You are amazing. I hope some day I will be doing as well as you.

[@whispernaut]

THANK YOU! The pull it tight against the needle bit really saved me! That has been driving me bananas!

[@helenreidt3315]

I do a little Goldwork, never would have thought to try French Knots, thank you

[@lorismith6517]

Lovely Sarah! I so enjoy seeing your projects from your RSN training! Hello to Ginger Cat! LOL

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

I might as well make use of them Lori! Ginger hasn't been too well but he's a tough old boot...

[@YotsInPots]

Thank you so much, I've watched quite a few videos about French knots but I just couldn't get a hang of it. But with your explanation the first try came out perfect! 🎉

[@morrisdancer11]

I am a crafter of many "crafts" and find that as a free wheeling gal I incorporate various techniques from each craft. I recently used a French knot as the black pupil in a blue felt eye, wait there's more::: It was for an Amigurumi ballerina. The French knot worked perfectly but I had never heard the direction of thread and needle plus pull it tightly before. Thank you so much. True crafters learn from each other.

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

There is always something to learn Vera!

[@Ynnaelben]

So happy to find your youtube channel, thank God I struggled with french knot just to find you channel.🩷❤🧡💛

[@bookwormbon482]

Amazing video thank you!!

[@monotropa_uniflora]

Can I just say - THANK YOU for taking the time to include the lefty version. Of course, I could flip it in my head but it’s still such a nice touch to see it.

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

You are welcome, comes from teaching left handed people!

[@Early100]

Lovely video 👍

[@heidimiller5475]

Thanks for showing me this. It was really easy.

[@sophieschaafsma4420]

youre window is oooooh can you give a lesson on that it is zooooo nice

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

I knew someone would ask Sophie! Maybe I'll do a few techniques from it...

[@susanrandal2854]

I completely forgot how to stitch a French knot, I learned 60 years ago. Now, you are my inspiration and I have many, many ideas--time is now my biggest factor. Thank you for all you present, please keep on. I wait for your new videos on the TV as well as the computer.

[@theshadowofgod1]

Just did a bunch for filler and flowers...kinda came up a little too loopy. Least now I know, PULL TIGHT AROUND NEEDLE! Least I'll have that down before I do my next project. Absolutely enjoy your videos, appreciate the patience you have teaching us embroidery. Majority of what I know involving it, came from your videos.

[@6862211]

What a great video?thank you!

[@faewells2873]

Your work is beautiful, thank you as usual Sarah. Love French knots as well. Good to see Ginger Cat as usual too.🐱🪡🧵🧶🐈🐾

[@naseemahamad8857]

Amazing tutorial and fabulous video thanks for sharing your beautiful ideas

[@BrilLeahnt]

This was suuuper helpful thank you!

[@hurleysgirl6720]

Thank you so much Sarah, you are so talented! ♥I am new to embroidery, so I really appreciate your knowledge and experience and skill, goodness it's amazing! So glad I found you!! ♥

[@bellescrapper2228]

Wow! Your prices are amazing. I absolutely love your all white piece. A true work of art.

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

Thank you Belle!

[@selinasteve]

Omg, this video is is awesome. Thank you sooo much ❤️🇦🇺

[@kayculwell3879]

Love this!

[@rsislandcrafts]

Thank you for the French Knot refresher video. I’ve always loved French Knots. The tip about finishing off after a few knots in a long stretch is an excellent tip and lifesaver if anything happens.

[@nancy-katharynmcgraw2669]

Very skilled step by step instructions with great camera work for the closeups. Many thanks.

[@gailmorris6302]

I love the idea to use the knots to shade,didn't think of that Thanks again Sarah ,enjoyed the tutorial,love the chilled out cat 🐈

[@Richiedei50]

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you so much.🥰

[@annmroyhughes7277]

Thank you Sarah! I finally understand the French Knot thanks to YOU! Now to tackle the boullion…Yikes. ❤️❤️❤️

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

We have a video on those too AnnM!

[@Molly-pb2yb]

Thank you, Thank you Thank you!!! You are an incredible teacher! I've learned more about French knots today watching this episode than I have in 10 years of tutorials etc. Wonderful series of videos!

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

Thank you Molly!

[@joanotto9984]

When you got to the ribbon I stopped video and got my silk sari ribbon and rewatched and practiced while watching. Just love this! Thank you!

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

Stitch along with Sarah! :) x

[@laineysilva3146]

Sarah your work is absolutely stunning. I cannot express my thanks enough, you are a master of the craft and you sharing your expertise is very much appreciated. I learn so much from you. Thank you.

[@Pammellam]

Just lovely! Thank you so much!

[@carolempluckrose4188]

I was on a C&G course and one piece I needed required hundreds of French knots. Once I'd finished it, I swore black was white and every colour of the rainbow, I'd never do French knots again. So, guess what, I've now got hundreds to do in the piece I'm about to work on! Peter says "Hello Mr Ginger Cat, glad to see you are supervising well".

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

You are a French knot Queen Carole!

[@l.baughman1445]

I can’t hit the like button more than once.

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

No unfortunately! I'll speak to KZbin about that...:)

[@juliaogara8794]

It was your video and instructions that got me stitching the perfect French knot. Granted they are not always perfect but I always know why.

[@belindashort7191]

such an informative video Tutorial. so helpful for me as i am a very beginner and i just enjoy your nice happy voice too. thank you Belinda

[@TheYarnaholic]

Thank you 🎉

[@nataljakotova9947]

Situation, when need more effords to do stitches in a wrong way...😅 Thanks for showing how to do all easier

[@createthememories5381]

Thank you 😊. That second white work is amazing & beautiful 😍

[@konulaslan]

You can't imagine how grateful to you I am. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. Thanks for all the video tutorials - they are actually lessons for all of us who either can't find a better teacher or can't afford going to courses. May the Almighty Creator be pleased with you. Amen🤲🤲🤲 26.03.2022, 0:29

[@joycekaminski1943]

Thank you so much for this video. I used to embroider when I was a child in England but lost interest as I grew older. Now at 79, your videos have re-sparked my interest so I am going to start on a small scale again. Wish me luck!!

[@judykonopka9029]

I know this is a LOT of work for you, but I think you were born to do this!

[@TheJanestarling]

I used to dread french knots & actively avoided them. Then i watched your 'How to' video & it all fell into place. But seeing how you can change them just by changing the thread you use is amazing. Your Window piece is just beautiful, so elegant!

[@dannsherstone1037]

Love this video! French and Colonial knots are among my top 5 favourite embroidery stitches.

[@dianeknott3655]

I like your "assistant". ;-) I'm glad I found you, Sarah. I linked your video to my Facebook page for my needlework customers who are afraid of French knots. Thank you! Your video is so clear and easy to follow - one of the best I've watched. I hope to find more of your videos and will also continue to share with my customers.

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

Thank you Diane, for spreading the embroidery knowledge!

[@dawsie]

😹😹I hate making French knots but I am for ever doing them in all of my embroidery work because it gives a softer look on embroidery work😹😹 I use to use a mirror to learn left handed as I work both ways I don’t have a dominant hand. Doing two wraps around the needle is called a colonial knot.

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

A great way to reverse the stitch Angela! A french knot and a colonial knot are formed slightly differently. Yes a colonial knot has two wraps but one of them goes around the needle the other way. We have a video on those too!

[@annettedepete4314]

Sarah this was so helpful, thank u so much😍☀️🌴

[@patriciaruppert201]

Love the use of the French knots. Absolutely beautiful pieces of work. Thank you for sharing.

[@Jennie_Chbz]

Great tutorial! I’m glad I’ve been doing them right, I taught myself well before KZbin was ever a thing. 😋

[@michellewohlgemuth8847]

Brilliant!! Thank you for sharing 👏🏻😻🏵

[@debbiecoleman7411]

Thank you, Sarah. I always wondered why my knots wobbled and now I know I was using too many wraps. I was not taught that and now I know. Yeah,

[@elainet5870]

I love doing the French knot! I guess it reminds me of my mother, as she taught it to me long ago and I remember always seeing it it her work when I was young. I very much enjoyed this video! Thank-you. 😃

[@LoveMusic-pd5iz]

Over 50 years ago I found a little - about 4" x 5" - booklet on embroidery at a thrift shop for 25 cents. I am left handed, it was for right handed, but that's how I learned embroidery. I made a little cloth doll and wanted to use French knots for the eyes. That little book didn't suggest using perle cotton and I didn't have embroidery floss yet - or the correct needle - yet. I searched through my threads and ended up using black carpet thread and a household needle with a large eye. I wound the needle around the eye 4 times and that didn't work - for exactly the reason you demonstrated. I ended up making three tiny French knots, each wound twice, in a tight grouping. It sufficed and the little girl I made the doll for was happy with it. It has been a journey learning left-handed embroidery through the years. I am so happy to have found you and your wonderful videos. I notice you occasionally demonstrate left-handed, and yet, I found that because your teaching is so concise, I easily learn from your right-handed demonstrations.

[@Thiriously]

Thank you so much! I absolutely love the french knot but couldn't figure out how to make them uniform which discouraged me from using them! That metal work is insane!

[@juliannaburgess9177]

Your white work projects are stunning!!! EXCELLENT by far. THANK you for your time, much appreciated.

[@jacquelinecastro2211]

Your work is magnificent! You're a great tutor it's perfect! 💖

[@mihaela.929]

Those last works, the white on white embroidery, are stunning! So delicate, so elegant, so much detail and so refined! Amazing talent to do such embroidery!

[@indoora]

I love it when cats join in videos.

[@bluestar.8938]

Thank you great instruction : )

[@conqueringmountscrapmorewi2509]

You make this look so easy! Thanks for sharing!

[@catherineskis]

Ms. Humphray, the flower pot with the highlights and shading is quite lovely!

[@CathyWagner001]

Thank you!

[@lyndaofiowa718]

Thanks, you really addressed a lot of different issues I have had in many years I've been embroidering. It's always great to learn if not something new, how to correct a problem. I love your cat too 🐈

[@dagwoodspott2199]

AWESOME !!! French knots clicked with me from your video 😘When you use ribbon do you burn the ends so they don't fray ? 😊Thanks for sharing 🤩

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

The ribbon is silk, so that does't work unfortunately but it doesn't fray too easily!

[@dianabryant702]

Thanks so much for showing left handed

[@kawsalyap1858]

Very detailed videos! I fall in love with your master piece, the window!!! Marvellous! Would you be able to recreate at least in a small scale and go through all the stitches and techniques in video series pleaseeeeee? At lease just go through that piece with more details?

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

We will cover basic whitework techniques at some point which is what you need before you tackle this!

[@kawsalyap1858]

@@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery Thank you!

[@VeretenoVids]

Generally I'm not moved by whitework, but the wisteria piece WOW! 🤩

[@alexanderfurbush5516]

so beautiful

[@kristinebalena3969]

I do candlewicking, this reminds me of it, I use white candlewicking thread.

[@ABJILL033]

The last piece you showed, the white work window with wisteria, what did you do to make the branches so thick & raised on the fabric? Also how did you do the net curtains? A fabulous piece of work. You have taken my fear of French knots, thank you. ❤️❤️👏👏🇬🇧

[@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery]

The branches are a technique called 'trailing' Jill - we have a video on that so look it up! The net, is literally embroidery on net. This piece is complicated in that there are lots of layers of fabric and you have to cut them away in the right order, so the wisteria branches have two layers of linen uner them while the rest of the piece has one, and the net is the only layer! A video for another time may be!

[@robertsheckler]

@@SarahHomfrayEmbroidery That piece is incredible, and I would love to see a video about it in the future! The previous videos where you talked through some of your other pieces were really interesting and inspirational.

[@sis9622]

Thank you for sharing

[@christineedwards1174]

So nice to see thank you love the wisteria do you teach the whole piece please